Penelope Scott
Drizzle (The Categorical Imperative)
[Intro]
The value of a short-term result
Pales in comparison to that of goodwill
[Verse 1]
Immanuel Kant said that we should be good to each other
As we would be good to ourselves
Treat people as ends and not means
If the murderer asks after family you tell
The truth to him
[Pre-Chorus]
The structure is kind, the intention so sweet
So in his eyes I'd say that he won
But for me
You see
It's never quite done
[Chorus]
Trees lose their leaves
When they flower I grieve
And everything always feels wrong
The state kills the innocent
God picks on Job
And boys take away my songs
[Spoken]
Because any desirable trait can be turned undesirable
If used for evil
No trait can be seen as the source of goodness
Instead, goodwill itself is the essence of goodness
And remains the essence of goodness regardless of its outcome
This is why one should act according to the categorical imperative
[Verse 2]
Well it's rained for three days straight
And I wouldn't be off to suggest
It'll rain for three more
We open the window to get some fresh air
But it makes the whole room just a little bit colder
And what's on your mind? Are you low? Are you high?
Are you having a pretty good run?
[Pre-Chorus]
What's on your mind?
Would you like to try mine?
For me it's never quite done
[Chorus]
Trees lose their leaves
When they flower I grieve
And everything always feels wrong
The state kills the innocent
God picks on Job
And boys take away my songs
[Spoken]
God does not owe the special treatment that Deontology reserves for people
And if God's law is unjust
Then Deontology would demand acting against it
Regardless of the consequences
Neither Kant nor Tronto hold that Job's God is the authority on goodness
[Chorus]
Trees lose their leaves
When they flower I grieve
And everything always feels wrong
The state kills the innocent
God picks on Job
And boys take away my songs
[Spoken]
It is up to people to define what is ought to be done
And to do what they can to carry these good actions out
Even if the god they live under disagrees
And even if it means that the system must be changed