For Regan (updated)

An article by Don Quixote    2 Comments

I came across an old Andrew Peterson song today as I was looking for some music to fit my rainy day mood. So this song is for Regan, it reminded me of your/our discussions on the structure of the Church. Enjoy. Since this song has already been available for download at www.andrew-peterson.com, you can download the MP3 here. Note this mp3 has been reuploaded with a better copy thanks to my buddy Richard over at Andrew Peterson land.

Mohawks on the Scaffold
by Andrew Peterson

Everybody’s gotta have a building program
Stacking that money up, brick on brick
oh, we’ve got to have praise team worship
fourteen services, take your pick

Everybody’s gotta have special music
don’t want dead air when the plate goes by
we’ve got to give a three point sermon
with a pun and a poem to break the ice
organ hit the D chord

it’s time to sing the doxology
stand up, praise the good Lord
please define doxology
well, now we take communion
but first a word to prepare our heads
joe gets up and talks politics
says a prayer and we break the bread

take the cup and quench our thirst
dismiss the children for children’s church
stand and greet your neighbor first
every aspect is well rehearsed

like mohawks on the scaffold
heedless of the danger
don’t look down on the city, brother
it’s a long way to fall
like mohawks on the scaffold
strolling on the I-beams
hallelujah, praise the Lord
he’s our buddy after all

brother don’t get too upset
i’ve got my perfect attendance badge
sunday school and VBS
i even pledged allegiance to the christian flag
(which i have not yet found anywhere in the scripture. what is the christian flag? wow!)

four years of bible college
well, i tucked my shirt and i cut my hair
oh, sister don’t get too upset
i learned a lot about Jesus there

i went to class and i wore a tie
learned about who’s wrong and why
point the finger at the other guy
with the clearly flawed theology

we are mohawks on the scaffold
heedless of the danger
don’t look down on the city, brother
it’s a long way to fall
like mohawks on the scaffold
strolling on the I-beams
hallelujah, praise the lord
He’s a puzzle that i’ve solved

well i hope you’re picking up on my sarcasm
because i’m laying it on pretty thick
it’s a useful tool of communication
even God Himself has employed that trick

so if you’ll turn with me in your bibles
to the book of Job, chapter 38
it’ll remind us who we’re dealing with
i hope you don’t mind my paraphrase:
“Job you are a little weeny man and I am the God of all creation and i can zap you out of existance if i felt like it.”

it’s like we’re sleeping on an air bus
taking home a bear cub
hiking mount vesuvius
like we’re cooking smores on the burning bush

like mohawks on the scaffold
heedless of the danger
don’t look down on the city, brother
it’s a long way to fall
like mohawks on the scaffold
strolling on the I-beams
hallelujah, praise the Lord
He’s so patient with us all

To find out more about Mohawks in the scaffold, here is a selection from, “Mohawks in the High Steel”