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  1. Ends and Means

From the recording I Ain't Stayin' (2020)

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Lyrics

It was a lie my Mother told me
If I would be a good boy
Be kind to my sisters
And all my friends and brothers
Do what my parents told me
And believe in the Easter Bunny
Well, he was going to bring me
All kinds of colored eggs and candy
Don't you see how fine that would be?
All I had to do was do
What they told me to
Somehow the ends
Was going to justify the means
IT WAS A BIG STINKING LIE!

Momma always said
If I would clean my plate
And make my bed
And brush my teeth and comb my hair
And wear clean socks and underwear
Just in case there was an accident
Santa Claus was gonna come
And bring me toys
That's what he did
For good girls and boys
All the rest got switches and coal
And I grew up and that story got old
I never got switches and coal
All I had to do was do
What they told me to
Somehow the ends
Was going to justify the means
IT WAS A BIG STINKING LIE!

Jesus loves me
That's what Momma always said
If I'd be good and go to church
I'd go to Heaven when I was dead
I didn't want to burn in Hell
Not for eternity
And I didn't want the Devil to jump up
Out of the ground and get me
So them do's and don'ts
And thou shalt nots
Got preached at me at least twice a week
Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal
Have no other gods before me
And no kind of graven image
And thou shalt not commit adultery
But I was only seven
And that one wasn't explained to me
Sunday was not a just another day
To watch football on the big TV
And take the Lord's name in vain when
Your favorite player missed a pass
And thou shalt not lie
Nor covet thy neighbor's wife
Or covet thy neighbor’s ass
And keep a special place in your heart
For your Momma and your Dad
All I had do was do
What they told me to
Somehow the ends justified the means

But it was manipulation
Through intimidation
To make me mind, keep me in line
It was all for a good cause
Nevermind that crap about Santa Claus
Or the Easter Bunny or the Devil
Or the tooth fairy or leprechauns
Or Republicans or Democrats
But I do remember the part about Jesus

Be kind to your sisters
And all your friends and brothers
Keep a special place in your heart
For your father and your mother
Share some peace and share some love
And share some harmony
And eat your vegetables
And help old ladies cross the streets
Don't take your neighbor's stuff
And don’t take your neighbor’s life
And don’t take your neighbor’s wife
And always be a good boy
Don't ever play with guns
And stay away from Reno!
And VOTE!