World Catch Fire

“Surrender!” sang the nightingale, peeled his paint chipped windowsill
He took at as an omen and a sign to leave his window open all the time
“Mary Full of Grace,” he prayed as he drank every dime he made
Wait to watch the sunset at horizon like a light
Like a giant matchstick strikes the sky
He watched this whole world, world catch fire

Victor raised on Mercy Street stickball in the city heat
Fireworks displayed out on the Fourth of July
He got his father’s drugs and his mother’s pride
Got HIV in ‘89 at a party down on 3rd and Vine
Now he sells his body down on Juniper and Pine
Look through you with is clear blue eyes
And watch this whole world, world catch fire

Oil slick and silver sleeves sedatives and TV scream
Lady Justice in the stable where the table sat to dine
But she’s breaking bread with the swine
And the crooked king makes paupers bleed
“God bless his guns,” the papers read
Glory, glory, glory! War and love are fair and blind
Close your eyes and pledge allegiance to prime time
And watch this whole world, world catch fire

Isabella she was a refugee in Philadelphia’s new century
Met her husband Diego on the unemployment line
He did not speak ingles and his face was cut
And Diego worked in the factories ‘til recruited overseas
With a promise they placed him to the firing line
He died with one question in his mind
How did this whole world, world catch fire?
How did this whole world, world catch fire?