Everybody Talkin’ ‘bout Heaven
Rick Pollay (2020)

Chorus based on a riff by Acappella on an old black gospel concept
Verses: Trad. Melody, cf. John Henry, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OIbf6XWsRI


Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heaven ain’t goin’ there
Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heaven ain’t goin’
Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heaven ain’t goin’ there
        No, No, No (all x2)

1. Not even all of the preachers
        ‘Tho they talk up heaven so well
Some can’t wait for the cash in their plate
        So they can raise some hell, Lord, Lord
        So they can raise some hell.

2. and some preach that the bible
        tells us science to deny.
But we get our birth here from Mother Earth,
        not some father off in the sky, No, No
        Not some father off in the sky.
                CHORUS

3. Not all those eager merchants
        with their prices set sky high
They’ll help you get it with their easy credit
        and fine print to bleed you dry, Lord, Lord
        Fine print to bleed you dry.

4. Not all those corporate CEOs
        ‘tho they may go to church
They took gobs and gobs when they sold our jobs
        and left us in the lurch, Lord, Lord
        They left us in the lurch.
                CHORUS

5. Not all those high priced lawyers
        with their clever scams and schemes
helping business crooks to cook their books
        while they rob us of our dreams, Lord, Lord
        They rob us of our dreams

6. Not all those in Congress
        ‘So smooth – sweet talkin’ lies
Some boast and gloat just to get our vote
        but never hear our cries, No, No
        They never hear our cries.

        CHORUS
        
7. Not all those courtly judges
        ‘Tho dressed in robes so fine
Some set big bail or send you straight to jail
        ‘Less you toe their color line, Lord, Lord
        You must toe their color line.

8. and not all of the po-lice
        Well-armed and pumped to attack
Some shoot to kill just for the thrill
        Of gunnin’ down a black, Lord, Lord
        Gunnin’ down a black.

Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heaven ain’t goin’ there!
        No … No … No!