Using a trope from Black gospel to make a political statement about evil being in many of societies institutions, perhaps especially those who with pretend piety me thinks doth profess too much their Godliness. 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 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! Can be sung to various melodies. Here's how I do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OIbf6XWsRI
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