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The opium of the people

from Into the Light by Alex MacDonald

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about

Karl Marx famously called religion the opium of the people. The Polish poet, Czeslaw Milosz, replied "A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death - the huge solace of thinking that our betrayals, greed, cowardice, murders are not going to be judged".

lyrics

The opium of the people

The opium of the people, the opium of the people
The opium of the people, of the people

The sigh of the oppressed, the heart of a heartless world
The soul of soulless circumstance, the halo of your tears
The abolition of religion is the call for happiness
Give up all your illusions that have bound you down the years

The opium of the people, the opium of the people
The opium of the people, of the people

And the people bowed to idols that were made of blood and steel
The icons of their leaders took the place of Jesus Christ
All animals are equal but there’re some more equal ones
And all things lose their value when truth is sacrificed

The opium of the people, the opium of the people
The opium of the people, of the people

But about the real opium a brave man told the truth
A belief in nothing after death and no justice done
Our betrayals, greed and cowardice are never to be judged
The politics of power come from the barrel of a gun

The opium of the people, the opium of the people
The opium of the people, of the people

But still the world continues in insanity and fear
Where self-appointed elites dictate what the people must believe
When power is truth and opinion law, they trample down the weak
They fear no retribution as their web of lies they weave

The opium of the people, the opium of the people
The opium of the people, of the people

And over the horizon at the very gates of dawn
The trumpeter stands ready to announce the ruthless day
But still the world’s rejected holds back the towering threat
His wounded hands contain the cure, the truth, the life, the way

The opium of the people, the opium of the people
The opium of the people, of the people

© Alex J MacDonald 2017

credits

from Into the Light, released November 25, 2017
Alex MacDonald: vocals and acoustic guitar
Rob MacDonald: drums
Phil Onslow: bass
Cailean Morison: organ
Rebecca Green: backing vocals
Jon Green: backing vocals
Spider Mackenzie: harmonica

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about

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Alex MacDonald Edinburgh, UK

Grew up in Kildonan Strath, Sutherland, where I loved the psalms and hymns and the old folk songs my father had learned from his drover grand uncle.Went on to Cash, the Clancys and Corries, Tom Paxton and Dylan. Started playing guitar and writing songs in my teens, but only started recording this century with my rock band sons! Either solo or with my band, I've played all over Scotland. ... more

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