Phil Ochs
Canons of Christianity
[Intro]
The other night a voice came to me
Turned out it was God
He said "Ochs wake up, this is God here, over"

I said, "You're putting me on of course Dylan."
So he did a few tricks
He moved the bed back and forth

Trembling I asked, "What is it you want O Lord?"
He said, "Well, frankly, Phil, I went downtown the other day
Saw The Greatest Story Ever Told
Couldn't believe it
It's gone too far
Something must be done about Christianity."

Then woof, in a puff of smoke he disappeared
The next morning I woke up, had a few drinks
Realized it was all true
And decided to do something about Christianity

But what could I do, me, a poor humble boy from the sticks?
Then, I remembered I was a songwriter - ah-hah!
So I sat down with pen in hand, over my typewriter
Ended up writing this next song
Which is a hymn about Christianity
Actually an anti-hymn, the first anti-hymn folks
That's the melody

[Verse 1]
Christian cannons have fired at my days
With the warning beneath the holy blaze
And bow to our authority
Say the cannons of Christianity

[Verse 2]
Oh the children will be sent to schools
Minds of clay are molded to the rules
Learn to fear all of eternity
Warn the cannons of Christianity

[Verse 3]
Holy hands will count the money raised
Like a king the Lord is richly praised
On a cross of diamond majesty
Say the cannons of Christianity

[Verse 4]
Missionaries will travel on crusades
The word is given, the heathen souls are saved
Conversions to our morality
Sigh the cannons of Christianity
[Verse 5]
Come the wars and turn the rules around
Defend your soul on the battle ground
And the Lord will march beside me
Drone the cannons of Christianity

[Verse 6]
Cathedral walls will glitter with their gold
And the sermons speak through silver robes
Building castles amidst the poverty
Say the cannons of Christianity

[Verse 7]
Worship now and wash your sins away
Drop the coins, fall to your knees and pray
Cleanse the world of all hypocrisy
Smile the cannons of Christianity

[Verse 8]
Christian cannons have fired at my days
With the warning beneath the holy blaze
And bow to our authority
Say the cannons of Christianity
Cry the cannons of Christianity

[Outro]
Thank you and God bless you