EVERYBODY DANCES
By Mark Heard.
another blow to the back of creation
another fistful of dirt in the grave
a vacant stare in the face of the nation
pennies of hate are easily saved
and loved like a wage
and everybody swings
to the pendulum beats of our time

everybody dances all night
everybody dances all day
everybody dances
everybody dances
everybody dances so strange

we take our gold and our hearts' truest treasures
we lay them down at the feet of our slaves
we lay them down at the feet of our masters
scepters and shackles
one and the same
rust in the rain
and everybody swings
to the pendulum beats of our time

everybody dances all night
everybody dances all day
everybody dances
everybody dances
everybody dances so strange

this heavy air in the room of our season
is like a burden of lead in our lungs
we cannot cough up a reason to reason
breathing was easy
when we were young
with awe on our tongues
and everybody swings
to the pendulum beats of our time

everybody dances all night
everybody dances all day
everybody dances
everybody dances
everybody dances so strange

From Tribal Opera
Back to the Mark Heard Lyric Project