Janis Ian — New Christ Cardiac Hero

[Spoken Introduction] I'd like to say before singing this controversial song, take 32 That this isn't about anyone's god in specific On account, some of my best friends are gods This is about New Christ Cardiac Hero, who is the latest hero And the latest leader of the young generation [Verse 1] Yesterday's preacher, today's bikini beacher They've stolen your clerical robes and your bible's been thrown Your virgin red crown of thorns has turned to ivory horns And your corner throne, it has become a coroner's stone Your crucifix you prayed on turned to jail-house bars Silver chain you left out in the rain to glow with dust And turned to seaweed tangled in your heart Now how does it feel to pull out the nails And find you still can walk? [Chorus] Oh, you can't feel it all from your self imposed rack on the wall The tighter you drive the nails the harder you fall So come on down, come off it sir you're gonna get hurt [Verse 2] The holy water you bathe in mingles with the sewer All your disciples have reclaimed their rifles and taken the cure Your lectures of ways are only today's pool room jokes Remaining scrawled on the walls of tenement halls and bathroom bowls As jingle bells cry "Pay us well or you'll go to hell" Freedom's chains bind your pain and tie you well But how could you know the gallows you hold weighs you down? Now isn't it boss you don't need a cross to get around [Chorus] Oh, you can't feel it all from your self imposed rack on the wall The tighter you drive the nails, the harder you'll fall So come on down, come off it sir you're gonna get hurt [Verse 3] Oh your eyes that cried for mankind's pride are covered with shades As the children of God trample unshod past your mindly grave New Christ, hipster, cardiac hero of 2000 years past your mind He spits at your feet crying "We have no need of a god, each of us is his own" Yesterday's preacher, today's bikini beacher They've stolen your clerical robes and your bible's been thrown Ah, you must have a cross but they've taken your God And shot you filled with dead So following new Christ, pick up on a cycle instead [Chorus] Oh, you can't feel it all from your self imposed rack on the wall And the tighter you drive the nails, the harder you'll fall So come on down, come off it sir before you get hurt