the killing fields are striped with red
white lies in between
while on a placid blue they float
like islands safe from all they sowed beneath
high above that poor man's toil
they lay in sacred isolation
safely placed in rows they are
stars of self-preservation
and on good friday,
(and all that glory,)
and on good friday,
(and all that glory,)
and on good friday...
in that corner sea serene
fifty stars line up against you
flying high but they will sink
with the weight of a heavy millstone
no man is an island
no one can run from all they've done
in that deep blue they'll sink
fifty stars never to see the sun
and on good friday
those red stripes are carved into your back
and on good friday
those stars spangled your body blue and black
and on good friday
the stars and stripes were torn in two
and all that glory, all that ol glory
belongs alone
to You
white lies in between
while on a placid blue they float
like islands safe from all they sowed beneath
they lay in sacred isolation
safely placed in rows they are
stars of self-preservation
(and all that glory,)
and on good friday,
(and all that glory,)
fifty stars line up against you
flying high but they will sink
with the weight of a heavy millstone
no one can run from all they've done
in that deep blue they'll sink
fifty stars never to see the sun
those red stripes are carved into your back
and on good friday
those stars spangled your body blue and black
and on good friday
and all that glory, all that ol glory
belongs alone
to You
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The meaning seems pretty obvious, but i'll comment anyways. I think that it is very poetic the way that the songwriters juxtapose the American flag with the crucifixion of Christ. I remember reading that the Psalters do not believe in patrtiotsm, only in Christ. It is an interesting concept. The song also seems to decry all of the harmful things America has done to the rest of the world over the years, talking about how we float on the stars in the blue on the flag in a daze of self-preservation. I may not agree with everything in this song, but it is really well-done and quite creative. Praise God for this good music He has blessed us with!
"fifty stars line up against you... and on good friday those red stripes are carved into your back and on good friday those stars spangled your body blue and black"
Here I believe they are implying the same elites who persecuted Jesus (on "good friday" and with "blue & black" beatings) are the same ones pushing the rapid "ol' glory" American nationalism we see today. The US empire, with its 200 military bases around the world and constant war machine, are the Romans of today. This is a common theme in other songs by the Psalters as well as the writings of their friend Shane Claiborne. "Jesus for President" talks about this in depth.