Peace Beneath the City

Here's a prayer for the body buried by the interstate

Mother of a soldier, a tree in a forest up in flames

Black valley, peace beneath the city

Where the women hear the washboard rhythm in their bosom when they say

Give me

Good legs

And a Japanese car

And show me a road

Sing a song for the bodies buried by the riverbank

A well dressed boy and a pig with a bullet in the brain

Black valley, peace beneath the city

Where the white girls wander the strip mall, singing all day

Give me

A juggernaut heart

And a Japanese car

And someone to free

Say something for the body buried like a keepsake

Mother of a million mouths with the very same name

Black valley, peace beneath the city

Where the women tell the weather but never ever tell you what they pray

They pray give me

A yellow brick road

And a Japanese car

And benevolent change