VERSE
A Church Is Burning
Simon And Garfunkel
A Church Is Burning
Words music by Paul Simon
A church is burning
the flames rise higher
like hands that are praying
a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying
the fire is saying,
You can burn down my churches
but I shall be free.
Three hooded men thru the backroads did creep
Torches in their hands while
the village lies a-sleep
Down to the church where
just hours before
voices were singing and
hands were beating and
saying I won't be a slave any-more.
And a church is burning
the flames rise higher
like hands that are praying
a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying
the fire is saying
You can burn down my churches
but I shall be free.
Three hooded men, their hands lit the spark
Then they faded in the night
and they vanished in the dark
And in the cool light of morning
there's nothing that re-mains
But the ashes of a bible and
a can of kero-sene
And a church is burning
the flames rise higher
like hands that are praying
a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying
the fire is saying,
You can burn down my churches
but I shall be free.
A church is more than just timber and stone
And freedom is a dark road
When you're walking it alone
But the future is now
and it's time to take a stand
So the lost bells of freedom
can ring out in my land
And a church is burning
the flames rise higher
like hands that are praying
a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying
the fire is saying,
You can burn down my churches
but I - I - I - I shall be free.
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About this Song
A Church Is Burning by Simon and Garfunkel is a poignant folk song that tackles themes of civil rights, injustice, and religious intolerance. Through vivid imagery and emotive storytelling, the song describes the aftermath of a burning church, symbolizing the racial tensions and violence prevalent during the Civil Rights Movement. The church serves as a powerful representation of both faith and the community's struggle. Key moments in the song include the descriptions of the church's destruction and the somber reflection on the loss of hope and sanctity. This song is a call for awareness and change, urging listeners to confront and challenge social injustices.
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