Canons of Christianity (Live Version) (Live)

Canons Of Christianity (Live) - Phil Ochs

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

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

Christian cannons have fired at my days

With the warning beneath the holy blaze

And bow to our authority

Say the cannons of Christianity

Oh the children will be sent to schools

Minds of clay are molded to their rules

Learn to fear all of eternity

Warn the cannons of Christianity

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

Missionaries will travel on crusades

The word is given the heathen souls are saved

Conversions to our morality

Sigh the cannons of Christianity

Come the wars and turn the rules around

To bend your soul on the battle ground

And the lord will march beside me

Drone the cannons of Christianity

Cathedral walls will glitter with their gold

And the sermons speak through silver robes

Building castles amidst the poverty

Say the cannons of Christianity

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

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