It's a Hit

Listen while you read:  Rilo Kiley

Any chimp can play human for a day
Use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform
And run for office on election day
Fancy himself a real decision maker
And deploy more troops than salt shakers

But it's a jungle out there when war is made
And you'll panic and throw your own shit at the enemy
The camera pulls back to reveal your true identity
Look, it's a sheep in wolf's clothing
A smoking-gun-holding ape

Any asshole can open up a museum
Put all of the things he loves on display
So everyone could see them
The house, a car, a thoughtful wife
Ordinary moments in his ordinary life

But if she breaks a smile, she'll give you away
Because no one wants to pay to see her happiness
No one wants to pay to see her day-to-day
And I'm not buying it, either
But I'll try selling it anyway

Any idiot can play Greek for a day
And join a sorority or write a tragedy
And articulating all that pain
And maybe you'll get paid

But it's a sin when success complains
And your writer's block, it don't mean shit
Just throw it against the wall and see what sticks
Got to write a hit, I think this is it
It's a hit

And if it's not
Then it's a holiday for a hanging
Yeah, it's a holiday for a hanging
Yeah, it's a holiday for a hanging
Yeah, it's a holiday for a hanging
Yeah, shoo bop, shoo bop, my baby

Any fool can play executioner for a day
And say with fingers pointed in both directions
"He went thataway"
It's only a switch or syringe
Exempt from eternal sins
But you can still wear a cross
And you think you're going to get in

Ah, but the pardons never come from upstairs
They're always a moment too late
But it's entertainment
Keep the crowd on their toes
It's justice, we're safe
It's not a hit, it's a holiday
Shoo bop, shoo bop, my baby

It's a holiday for a hanging, yeah . . . 

~  Jenny Lewis (for Rilo Kiley)

Well, I just love Rilo Kiley (even though they don't exist anymore), but mostly, I love Jenny Lewis' lyrics and vocals. "It's a Hit" is from Rilo Kiley's 2004 release, More Adventurous. The linked video is pretty trippy, so much so that I cannot wrap my head around why they would bleep out the words "asshole" and "shit." Seriously. Why?

Clearly, the beginning of the song is a direct reference to the Presidency of George W. Bush. Which, of course, seems rather tame in comparison to today's administration. But the basic premise of the song, that it doesn't require any great intelligence or honor or compassion to hold high office, is pretty obvious. Any asshole can do it. And we have certainly seen our share of assholes holding office, haven't we?

But you can still wear a cross and think you're going to get in. I'm sorry, but this line really gets to me. I do not doubt for one minute that there are good and honorable people sporting crucifixes on gold chains around their necks. But I want to believe that it takes much more than that to enter the kingdom of heaven (whatever and wherever that is). I have always believed that it's not what church or temple you frequent, or what symbols you decorate your body or your car with, or what prayers you recite or sing, but rather, the way you behave, the way you treat others, the way you uplift those around you to a higher existence.

Last week, I was behind a minivan sporting a sticker that read "God Bless My Car." Seriously? God is blessing cars now? I would imagine that the underlying prayer is that the sticker will prevent that car from ever being in an accident? I am old enough to remember the trend of placing a St. Christopher medal on the visor of a car.  I'm not buying it, either / But I'll try selling it anyway. I'm pretty sure those medals went through several accidents. Some of us know that this life is a crapshoot. Some of us have yet to find this out.

Shoo bop, shoo bop, my baby . . .