America: Searching For Reality

An American Satire

–

Composed and Copyrighted by Roger Himes

The nature of the song is negative, and I don’t usually write negative songs.
But the purpose of the book is to transform negatives into positives.

Most songs take a lot of work and patience to write.
But this song came to me in the course of an hour’s time, both words and music.

I was in the mountains, and singing another song:
John Denver’s ‘Rocky Mountain High,’

when this song began to literally force itself upon me.
I truly felt like I was being used as an instrument
for something that wanted to be said.

To see the book go to my bookshelf. It’s on the middle of the top page
with the lyrics and the burning flag (no, I didn’t really burn a flag :-).

https://fliphtml5.com/bookcase/xmruk

HERE ARE THE LYRICS:

America! Land of pride and plenty!
People rushing to nowhere
Idle time beyond compare
Ignoring others in despair
Searching for some certainty.
People hear yet seldom listen
Others look but cannot see
Competing in the wrong directions
Acting out facsimiles.
People full yet always hungry
Reaching out but seldom touching
Outward laughing, inward crying
Avoiding our Gethsemane.

America! Land of opportunity!
Money is our hidden treasure
Wealth becomes the standard measure
As we seek our fleeting pleasures\
Pride without humility.\
Great concern but no compassion
Fighting hard for selfish justice
Becoming slaves in all dimensions
While striving hard to be set free.
Seeking answers while avoiding issues
Learning facts but never knowing
Seeking knowledge, seldom wisdom\
Intellectual security.

America! Land of milk and honey!
Many songs yet few have meaning
Voices filled with empty chatter
Noise abounds but peace is fleeting
Clanging like calliopes.
Countless children yet few fathers
Many houses yet few homes
Many plans for great tomorrows
While today remains a mystery.
Many smiles but shallow greetings
Religious people with no true God
Many Christians without Christ
Searching for reality.

Composed and Copyright by Roger Himes