My Tribute To The Pope
Without kind permission of Crosby Stills & Nash but with enormous gratitude.
CATHEDRAL
Six o’ clock
In the morning I feel pretty good
So I dropped into the luxury of the Lords
Fighting dragons and crossing swords
With the people against the hordes who came to conquer
Seven o’clock
In the morning here it comes I taste the warning
And I’m so amazed I’m here today
Seeing things so clear this way
In the car and on my way to Stonehenge
I’m flying in Winchester cathedral
Sunlight pouring through the break of day
Stumbled through the door and into the chamber
There’s a lady setting flowers on a table covered lace
And a cleaner in the distance finds a cobweb on a face
And a feeling deep inside of me
Tells me this can’t be the place
I’m flying in Winchester cathedral
All religion has to have its day
Expressions on the face of the Savior
Made me say
I can’t stay
Open up the gates of the church and let me out of here
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call
So many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can’t believe it all
Now I’m standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799
And the day he died it was a birthday
And I noticed it was mine
And my head didn’t know just who I was
And I went spinning back in time
And I am high upon the altar
High upon the altar, high
I’m flying in Winchester cathedral
It’s hard enough to drink the wine
The air inside just hangs in delusion
But given time
I’ll be fine
Open up the gates of the church and let me out of here
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call
Too many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can’t believe it all
And now I’m standing on the grave of a soldier that died in 1799
And the day he died it was a birthday
And I noticed it was mine
And my head didn’t know just who I was
And I went spinning back in time
And I am high upon the altar
High upon the altar, high
OK, Peter. I think we know what you think about the Pope. And yes, a lot of us would agree with much of this:
‘All religion has to have its day … I can’t stay …
Open up the gates of the church and let me out of here
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call
So many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can’t believe it all.’
But I put most wars down to facets of and clashes between human nature, money, land, power, possibly as much as to religion. It’s a facile, if unprovable thought that without religion there would be no “lies” and no “wars”. Nice thought. I just don’t accept it.
Personally, if religion and religious differences ARE the main causes of war I am more comfortable on Christianity’s side than on the side of any other religion. For reasons I mentioned here.
https://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/shocking-confession-of-an-agnostic-blair-supporter/
keeptonyblairforpm
September 18, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Yes, you selected the very heart of the song – lyrics, I think, as profound as any.
Though I love a good hymn, don’t you? The one good thing about the wall to wall coverage of Pope Benny has been the hymns. Maybe it’s because I ‘m a Welshman but I do love a good singsong at the top of my voice while I’m tapping out abuse at some Catholic or other!
Other than that, sorry to be boring old chap but I think I’m going to have to agree with you.
HOWEVER!
There is an alternative!
Instead of wall to wall Pope, on t’other side there’s the LibDem conference!
(cue 1812 finale, cymbals, cannons, fireworks)
Peter Reynolds
September 18, 2010 at 7:30 pm