No, Not Ten
by Roger Montgomery
We don’t want the Ten Commandments
Hanging on the courthouse wall
Because they are no longer relevant
They have no significance at all.
They are too demanding
They are not for one and all
So let us make our own rules
And be guided by our own laws.
If we made our own rules
We’d obey them one and all
We’d all have a hand in all of this
And we’d have more respect for the law.
Though laws take away our freedoms
And they restrict us one and all
They also make us free
So we need to be ruled by some law.
This sounds like a contradiction
But it’s not one at all
We don’t want to be tied down
But we’re also afloat without a law.
But I know we can handle this
We are so intelligent after all
But when we listen to God
It’s like running into a wall.
What He says is too restrictive
It’s time to make our own call
Why should we listen to God anyway
And His Ten Commandments called the law.
Crime is up again this year
Seems somewhere there’s a flaw
So let’s build another prison
And make another law.
The real problems are the people
Who are living outside those walls
We need to put everyone in jail
Who won’t obey all our laws.
More policemen are the answer
But new taxes may rub the people raw
You will soon need a second job
Just to afford all those laws.
So hire some more policemen
It’s critical we don’t stall
But, we should send them to law school first
To get a grasp on all those laws.
Put them all to work
Put their back to the wall
If they don’t write you another ticket
We’ll fire them one and all.
The judge and the prosecuting attorney are best friends
Like wrestlers, they’ve learned to take a fall
So unless you have a fairly good lawyer
They will destroy you with their law.
Drunk drivers create some real problems
Drinking too much alcohol
They should learn to drink more responsibly
Otherwise, it should be against the law.
Some people can’t handle their whisky
Beats all I ever saw
But we need another liquor store
The taxes will help us all.
We are so proud of ourselves
We can stand real tall
We have policemen sworn to protect us
And enforce all our precious laws.
But crime is up again this year
Seems somewhere there’s still a flaw
So let’s build another prison
And make another law.
They’ll know us by our first name
Or maybe have a number for us all
We’ll be on the inside in all of this
When everything is against the law.
We finally have succeeded
Who would have ever foresaw
The problems we have created for ourselves
By not obeying just one stupid simple law.
So, fill your school books with cursing
Make fun of those appalled
Tell them it’s the states prerogative
Now remember, it’s the law.
They want most good Americans
To accommodate the few so small
Doesn’t sound too democratic to me
But they act like it’s the law.
Don’t mention the name of Jesus
At work, school, or at the mall
It might offend the heathen
Or the witches down the hall.
Separation of church and state
Means no state religion at all
But they don’t mind controlling the church
Using taxes as the law.
Pass out things once unmentionable
Put bulletins in the hall
Get rid of all your Bibles
And bow down to every man-made law.
Turn your weapons in
One day you will feel so small
When they show you how big they are
When you’re helpless against the law.
No politicians are in the foxholes
Their world seems to be so small
While they decide who should live or die
As they wrangle about the law.
Soldiers have died on the battlefield
Watch their blood flow as they fall
Sacrificing for the very rights
We’ve destroyed with our law.
The world’s ecology is being threatened
Will the smog kill us all
As they send us to pick up some tin cans
That should be against the law.
Russia is passing out Bibles
It’s about time that they finally saw
What we built this great country upon
That’s now against the law.
Maybe I could get elected
If I could cut down on crime overall
Hey, let’s make everything legal
Then no one could break the law.
But how could we control the people
Without fear in one and all
I’d be out of a job in no time
Hey, let’s pass another law.
You don’t have to think for yourselves
We’ve hired consultants to do it all
If they can ever agree on anything
We’ll pass another law.
That grandmother there looks suspicious
Let’s confiscate that doll
It may contain a homemade bomb
She’s probably breaking the law.
The CIA was found to be smuggling drugs
Worst mistake I ever saw
They should have been more discreet
You won’t catch me breaking the law.
This is a great, great land
With justice and opportunity for us all
If you can afford a really good lawyer
To find a loop hole in the law.
Well, I guess enough has been said
But there still remains a flaw
So let’s build another prison
And make another law.
People should learn to take it to heart
Without Godliness, we are nothing at all
Just another country not ruled by God
And ruled by nothing but some man-made law.
It’s getting hard to do anything
But some people still have the gall
To think for themselves these days
Hey, let’s make that against the law.
It only costs $35,000 to keep that prisoner
But she showed contempt like you never saw
Cheated on her food stamps to feed her kids
We’ll teach her to respect the law.
People are breaking into homes
Wonder we have anything to steal at all
After the government helps us all out
Maybe that should be against the law.
A burglar breaking into your home
Better make sure he doesn’t fall
Don’t you dare defend yourself
That may be against the law.
Beg them not to prosecute you
Have your lawyer stall
You should not have threatened him
Raising your voice is against the law.
At least he will have a place to live
After he’s released this fall
He may win his lawsuit
Now that he has time to study the law.
It will be your time to take his place
Write your name on the jailhouse wall
Have you ever heard of dominoes
That’s the interpretation of these new laws.
It’s getting tougher to breath
There’s a policemen in the hall
Are you using too much oxygen
Is that now against the law?
At least they will read you your rights
When you get down to city hall
You still have the right to obey
Another ten thousand laws.
Homes are breaking up everywhere
Listen to the babies squall
Oh, that’s only a baby being aborted
But, at least that’s not against the law.
So, let’s get to the heart of the matter
That should help us all
Somewhere, some changes should be made
Maybe that would make a pretty good law.
We have figured it all out
We’ll call in experts to help us all
Teach us to interpret these new rules
Help us understand all these new laws.
We have your best interest at heart
These laws are made for us all
We’re here to look over you
That’s why you need such great laws.
Of course, there may be a better Way
If you don’t run into a wall
Trying to figure it out for yourself
But then, I guess that’s your call.
So, let’s get our great brains together
And work for one and all
What about, thou shalt not kill
Wouldn’t that make a pretty good law?
Or, maybe, thou shalt not steal
Would that help us all
Maybe one to cut down on lying
We’re now ready to make some brand new laws.
Maybe the answer lies outside ourselves
Heaven help us all
But I better not talk like that
That’s probably against the law.
But, there should be an obvious answer
If anyone knows, please give us a call
We’re too busy reading the codes
And trying to interpret all these new man-made laws.