Lift To Experience

This is the story of three Texas boys busy mindin' their own bidnis
when the Angel of the Lord appeared unto them saying:
"When the Winston Churchill's start firin' their Winston rifles in the sky from the Lone Star State,
drinkin' their Lone Star beer and smoking their Winston cigarettes.
You know the time is drawin' nigh when the sun shall be lifted on high".
We told them that didn't sound very Sunday-go-ta-meetin.
"What do you expect?" they said
"When God calls the crippled deaf and blind to lead the children of Israel to the promised land
"The children of Israel?" we asked
"Don't you boys know nothing? - The USA's the center of Jerusalem."

I hear the train a-coming.

I know not, even with friends reaching out
My thoughts have escaped.
So try and rest till I trample walls over, until land dries
Even now dark times have infiltrated so, we ask you with inhibitions to heed
Breathe Lord on our desperate attempts now, deliver freedom in response.
Experience a new death, victory awaits

Prophets on risen stars.
Open fierce skies make on lookers kneel.
Experiencing a death indeed.
Now my young heros everywhere advance rapidly toward Texas
Here at the troop headquarters enlist, dispatched angels remain knelt
Enduring rainy days and you will overcome, until land dries.

Stretch out our nights been easy, under prophet's orders.
Now until stars align lay low.
Just as was told.
We are here at last
And all prophecies of old shall come to

Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
Just as was told justice will unfold
The truth be told it will unfold

What's in the sky shining silver shimering sleek
A star, a star is born
Down came the angels from heaven up above, oh.
Drunk on the passion and the frangrance of song,
with feathered wings flapping upon the wind,
to my door they did descend quietly a knock
"Forgive the intrusion, but we've traversed so far."
(We're) three wise men who seek a star.
(We) came down from heaven from the throne room of grace,
where the counsel of the most high sent us so,
(to) speak in their place,
"We seek shelter, from the storm on the horizon.
"Can you give us what we seek, give me shelter for my friends and I?"
"What I have I give unto you, all I have is this humble abode.
And you're welcome to rest here (if) I may be so bold,
tell me what it was that what said, just as was told."
"Fair enough my friend, (we) would hate to keep you unaware."
"Then do come in and let me entertain you,
well don't hesitate out with it now, I'm in earnest pray tell.
What was it that was spoken, that my soul will sit well?
My son it's a bit complicated you see, to say what was said is nothing easy.
They seek a seer to ride the sea, to crash the tide, (and) protect the free.
They want a watchman upon the wall (to) sound the alarm."
What sort of someone does the counsel now seek?
"My son they didn't say, they gave us the message and sent us on our way.
All we know is to follow the star, and the star did set
above this meager barn that you inhabit
and you're not what we expected all covered in sh**.
We're just the messengers, and we know far better than to try and interpret.
Only we deliver this message for the council of God, that in exchange for all these things.
God will bless the man with angel wings, (to) fly above (and) see beyond,
Imortalise his words and give him power over the curse to call or calm the storms.
But my son, if you want God to bring about these strange and wildest things,
He requires a cost that you must count as loss, if you want those angel wings.
In exchange for all these things he requires something that's already quite His."
"What, what does he ask?"
"In exchange for the wings He requires, your life for this."

Rising to the top knowing I must fall.
Refeathered wings, salt the strings to remake the crawl to the top, and then take the fall again.
Blood soaked, gagged and chocked, lined face on stone, stripped bare, sucking in air,
this is my home, it seems with rock and the hard place stuck between.
The Godman Christ cause cursed man to the test.
And this Goddamned cross crushed into my chest I'm still doing my best.

And so the winter time comes calling.
Through the skies I'm crawling, from cloud nine, I've fallen.
And then the foolish times rush in.
It's no longer mine, life on cloud nine.

Place your dreams in a bottle, smash it to the ground, slip off you slippers and dance all around.
It's blood baby, it's just blood baby, it's just blood baby, it's just your precious blood.

I've come this far and I said I'd go all the way but these fevered winds sway stronger each day.
Yeah I'm fool's gold, and my heart's not right but I'd still sell what's left in my soul just to pay the tithe.
Shot down in the glory of my prime.
Only to find the bullets were divine.
So don't speak to me of heavens above, 'cos cloud nine is where I've fallen from.

Carry on the wayward son, the way that lovers do.

Yeah the storms will surely come, (as) sure as the sun sets in the sky it shall be done.
From that city one the hill, we're gonna wait out till the winds do still.
At the pay for view, for the chosen few, yeah the storms are gonna come, sure as that setting sun.
All aboard the engine number nine, those bound for the Jordan our Texas state line.
Here at the shelter for the saints, you'll find rest for the weary and the faint.
Dry amidst the deluge inside our city of refuge.
From Athens to London to Paris to Rhome, the stars are gonna shine, from here to Palestine.
When the angels take flight deep from the heart of the dark Texas night.

So begins the Exodus to the land of the unclouded day.
With blood bought ticket in your hand, carving out a 'trail of tears' along the way.
Traveling ever homeward under (a) crippled, angry, new America.
Traveling ever homeward under (a) crippled, angry, new America.
On that railroad underground, those bound toward Texas till that great whistle sounds.
And i the train does the tracks, don't think for a second that you're getting your money back.
No exchanges, no refunds. Onward on foot till you see the rise of the Texas son.
(New America, new America, our song.)

And if you make it over the Jordan, you still have to make it through the night.
And if you reach the Holy City, it won't be without a fight.

And at that final resting place
We shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty's saving grace
And when hte bough does break
Under the Bible Belt we're safe
Where there'll be no hitting allowed
From a single storm cloud
From Athens to London to Paris to Rhome

The stars are gonna shine
From here to Palestine
When the angels take flight
Deep from the heart of the dark Texas night.
With crippled wings

Waiting to

In the morning glow with light so low
the day begins as night shelds her skin.
In the aftermath of the long dark past,
I'm beginning to see the light.
Through drunken days and spinning scenes,
the lifting of weight that God's freedom brings.
Till genius awakes with hungover snakes
and remembers the dreams one more.
Tossed from bed to floor.

Sometime, somewhere just when you think it couldn't get any worse,
it'll hit you unaware and you realise:
it sure as hell ain't gonna get any better.
So tune into the radio and listen to the words we say.
it's gonna get far worse before it gets better.
Tune into the T.V. show, when we will appear to show you the way.
When host of heavenly Angels takes homeward to the Promised Land.
And the stars did align in nineteen ninety-nine.
We're getting ready for the moment to shine.
With luck, star-struck.

On the front of the storm we shall be born,
under the red and the blue and the white,
these angels will take flight.

Sometime, somewhere just when you think it couldn't get any worse,
it'll hit you unaware and you realise:
it's gonna get far worse before it gets better.
So turn your heads to the starry skies above,
give those sore eyes a sight.
When the host of heavenly Angels takes flight
with crippled wings and songs to sing.

Just a stupid ranch hand in a Texas rock band,
trying to understand God's masterplan.

When the Lord said "Son! Tell the world before it explodes,
the glory of the Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads."
I said "Lord I'll make you a deal;
I will if you give me a smash hit so I can build a 'city on a hill'."
And He said "Son! I will if you will."
I said "My sweet Lord, it's a deal."

Waiting to hit with crippled wings,
waiting to hit with songs to sing,
waiting to hit the silver screen,
waiting to hit the scene.

So we approach the grand conclusion when the world receives its retribution.
On the eve of our destruction, standing at the edge looking over.
Waiting to hit the center stage at such a golden and tender age,
shot forth out of the miry clay cuttin' all the corners along the way.
Born in a manger covered in after-birth, we're taking her for all she's worth.
With stars above, lone star below, upon the earth a star is born.

Lord rescue me, place your hand underneath my wings
and lift me up above the raging sea,
and carry me to your shore.
Lord you ask so much, for someone with so little to give,
this ain't my life and it never will be
I'm just trying to endure the sea.
Place my body upon the rocks,
where the farthest I can fall is to the ground so soft.
And in the coming age, when the waters rage,
help me to clearly see above, the sea, Lord.

If you choose to let me sink to the floor
Of this ocean's bed
And let the waves come crashing down
Up above my head
I'm gonna take the rope from the millstone that's
Tied around my neck
And with body bound for death
Wrap my feet back up
Underneath my legs
So when I sink to the bottom
Of this deep dark sea
I will wait for Thee
On bended knee.

Death where is thy sting?
Grave where is thy victory?
For my saviour will come and rescue me,
and redeem his treasure at the bottom of the sea.
(And) when that light breaks through the clouds,
we're all gonna sing and we're all gonna shout,
when the death shall rise from their resting place,
and sing the chorus to "Amazing Grace".

Lord rescue me, place your hand underneath my wings,
lift me up above the raging sea.
And carry me to your shore.

These are the days, marching t'ward us with vengeance in their eyes.
These are the days, racing t'ward us with blood on their teeth and lips.

And I can hardly wait to hear that great trumpet sound pouring down out across the land.

These, these are the days that must happen to you.
These, these are the days that must happen to you.

These are the days that must happen to you,
bloody times ahead for God's chosen few.
With our instruments swords, weapons of war,
marching around the city seven times.
And I can hardly wait to hear that great trumpet sound, pouring down a cross out across the land.

So we approach the end, when God judges man's sin.
Yeah the time is running thin,
Let the countdown begin.
Four... three... two... one...
Yeah the whole world is gonna shake
'When The Levee Breaks'.
And it feels the wrath
Of God's terrible swift sword.

These are the days that must happen to you,
the stars are aligned for all God's chosen few.
So all you haircut bands, doing headstands,
thinking you'll turn the world upside down.
Put your guitars up over your shoulders.
A new sort of experience is taking over
'cos we're simply the best band in the whole damn land.
and 'Texas Is The Reason'.

The city is ours for the taking.
And a host of many more heavenly angels are on their way.
These are the days.

Falling, just angels falling.
(When) we shall touch, the worlds will shake when these touch down and storm.
just angels falling.
And if I don't make the climb to the higher times know that in my heart I'm still your man.

(Spoken through megaphone: excerpt from "Paradise Lost".)

Stubborn horses standing on the lead rope, no other forces but you keep holding back off God's track.
On a mission impossible to lead the troops out of the enemy's hand into the promised land.
Headed to Texas where it's safe and dry, the ground is rough but so is life, and this ain't your life.
Headed to Texas with gun in hand, to set our feet upon dry land.

Down with the prophets who speak the words, and warn us of the perils through song and verse.
Here's my body I lay it down, give my head to receive my crown.
Let's cut the heads off the John The Baptists, bring them on an altar to the King for the songs that they sing those wretched wretched things.
This is the lot of the chosen who give their lives just to save a few more chosen few.
What's a boy to do when he's seen the truth?
And when the profits peak, the prophets speak.
"We are troubled on ev'ry side yet no distressed, perplexed but not in despair.
Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed."
Yeah this is the drink stronger than you think
Spoken: shaken but not stirred, and if you want to survive put the cup to your mouth, and turn your body to the south.
And if you go on, if you stay, we couldn't give a horse's ass either way.
Just tryin' to feed the stubborn horses standin' on the lead rope.
The coming revival will be one of survival.
And if you wanna survive, you gonna keep your heads down with the prophets, down, with the prophets.
down with the prophets, down with the prophets
down with the prophets, down with the prophets
down with the prophets, down with the prophets
down with the prophets, down with the prophets.
Down with the prophets, down with the prophets.
down with the prophets.

Spoken: We sing these songs because we have to, not because we want to.
We sing these songs because we have to, not because we want to.
Just doing our part trying to feed stubborn horses standing on the lead rope.

And all of the rock and roll until now was to give a place for the angels to spread their wings,
with songs to sing, with songs to sing.
And when the rock starts to roll
Know that the bell soon will toll
And we are the ones that told you so
For the angels are coming with bells on
For the angels are coming with bells on
For the angels are coming with bells on
Behold the angels are coming with bells on.

And you may not need God now, but you'll need Him then, after all the alcohol when the room really starts to buzz.

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains.
And the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains.
Marching on toward Zion, marching on toward Zion.
Under the X in Texas is where you'll find me, it's where I'll be,
Singing out the songs, warnin' the world of the perils to come.
With a cloud by day and a cloud by night.
Forced out of 'The Garden Of Earthly Delights'.
And one by one the states will know as they crumble like Jericho, from Canada to Mexico that Texas is the rock to lift you up when the words collide.
With the angels to guard and the angels to guide, upon this truth you can rely.
So take two steps toward Texas tonight.
Spoken: For the sheep shall flock to the call of that mighty Texas rock singing:
"Angel of God, my guardian dear.
To whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side, to light, to rule, to guard and to guide."
Spoken:
Angel dons the metaphor, swings open those prison doors.
there's going to be a war to end all war.
When your heart hears the call, feels the weight of the fall, and the gravity of life's circumstance pulls you down, follow your fate to the Lone Star and join us as we sing along:
"Angel of God, my guardian dear.
To whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side, to light, to rule, to guard and to guide."
Spoken:
If you survive the coming rains
The crash and the tide of the latter days
You can secure your slot
And fall in rank with the crippled and the faint
As the saints go marching on toward Zion
With guns in hand
As the saints go marching on toward Zion
With guns in hand.

Take two steps toward Texas tonight,
Take two steps toward Texas tonight.
take two steps toward Texas tonight.

Spoken: follow the Lone Star in the sky and beg for the angels to guard and to guide.

"Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains"

"To teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony"
"As for me and my house"
"We will not go gently."

Now the time has come when you must decide
To take two steps toward Texas tonight.

Spoken: Into the storm
Tell your mother you won't be home for Christmas this year.
say you've headed south for the Promised Land.
With gun in hand.

When America falls the world will fall with her.
When America falls the world will fall with her.
Sell the car and take the train,
you won't need it where you're going,
leave the bags, don't pack a thing but the clothes on your back.
With food, gun and gunny sack,
with food, gun and gunny sack,
with food, gun and gunny sack,
head for the tracks.
If one dies along the journey keep riding through the night,
you'll never make it if you stop to bury,
you'll never make it if you wait for light.
Don't pause to question justice,
don't take the time to mourn,
we'll have time to suffer,
after we've suffered the storm.

Spoken: There's gonna be two hits
Babylon is fallen, is fallen.
You'll see it before you hear it,
sound takes some time to travel.
When the noise reaches your ear you will know and you will fear
the end is near.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen
For the day comes, then the night.
As we tread along the darker song,
of salvation yet to come.
Ponder the thought of what little you've fought.
Yeah the journey for you my friend has just begun.
Yeah the wind is gonna blow those (four) walls in
and the sound is gonna drown you out.
Behold I show you a mystery,
we shall not all sleep,
we shall all be changed,
the crippled, deaf and weak.
In a moment, in the twickling of an eye,
the last trumpet shall sound and the dead shall rise.
Incorruptible we shall all be changed.
Spoken under: (If the watchman sees the sword come upon the land, warns not the people)
Incorruptible we shall all be changed.
(His blood will I require at his hand.)
Incorruptible we shall all be changed.
(If the watchman sees the sword come upon the land and warns the people,)
Incorruptible we shall all be changed.
(he has delivered his own soul and shall be free.)
Spoken: We shall all be free.
We, we shall all be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free.
(There are no roads to where we are,)
we shall be free.
(the path to the city has yet to be craved.
so follow your fate to the Lone Star State, and join us as we sing along.)

Born in sin, sufferin', strugglin' through thick and thin.
Place your lips to my lips, and let's begin to weather the dreaded storm.
You have been warned.
We shall be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free.
We shall be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free,
we shall be free.
We shall be
1° + 2° spoken: excerpt from Whitman's "Song Of The Open Road"
Spoken: excerpt from Augustine's "Confessions"
Spoken: There is a place.
Follow me over the Jordan across the desert sands.
Follow me O Israel into the Promised Land.
Follow me over the Jordan across the Rio Grande.
Follow me into Texas into the Promised Land.
Marching on to Zion with gun in hand.
1° + 2° tacet

Into the Promised Land.