OPEN MIC WEEK 73: Original Song "San Pedro Sula (Cast the Devil Out)"
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This is very different from my normal selection.
I read a gripping article a few years ago similar to this one about the effects of the drug trade in Honduras since the 90s, and the full sections of one of its largest cities, San Pedro Sula, that are now fully run by gangs. It is (or at least was just then) the murder capital of the world.
It averages 16 murders a day, according to the above article.
The article featured a morgue owner, who daily watches desperate mothers come there to look for their sons there after they don’t come home; they expect to find them dead. 30 years ago, he said, it was all elderly deceased people being brought into the morgue; now, tragically, under 30 is the main demographic he sees.
The article featured a haunting quote by that pained mortician: “Satan himself lives here in San Pedro.”
Particularly interesting is the interplay between the Church and the gangs, especially framed around such a comment by the mortician. While gang members will easily torture and kill any authority or innocent person without hesitation, something often keeps them out of the churches--some mix of spiritual influence and superstition?
You can’t make this stuff up.
So I wrote a song. Some things just demand to be written.
(I've been wanting to share it with the Open Mic for a long time now. Lyrics below.)
San Pedro Sula (Cast the Devil Out)
The devil lives in San Pedro, they say
I saw him in a dream
He wore cuffed jeans and a slick '22
And jet black Oakleys
Now they're headed for the border, the Promised Land
The drugs are gonna pay
The great north calls to you
The U S of A
There's gold in the hills
But blood on our shoes
We forgot about God
And the soul of truth
Cast the devil out, Jesus
Cast the devil out
Cast the devil out, Jesus
Cast the devil out
The hills will keep on shining just like they do
In the burnt summer sun
But where the light shines, the darkness shows
San Pedro's blood
There's gold in the hills
But blood on our shoes
We forgot about God
And the soul of truth
Cast the devil out, Jesus
Cast the devil out
Cast the devil out, Jesus
Cast the devil out
Sula, Sula, dream in gold
Don't bother waking up
Don't hope to grow old
Heaven has the streets you crave
And if you don't die today
And you walk straight and brave
You might just make it some day
There's gold in the hills
But blood on our shoes
We forgot about God
And the soul of truth
Cast the devil out, Jesus
Cast the devil out
Cast the devil out, Jesus
Cast the devil out
Copyright 2017.
xx,
Kay
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Wow! Love hearing you sing @kayclarity!
Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed this one. One of my favourites of mine.
Hey - don't like to be a squeaky wheel because honestly I'm just really grateful for the Open Mic and all of the work you guys do, but the last 3 times I've posted an original the bonus didn't come through (like this one. It's the second tag as "originalmusic," correct? Thanks for checking into this when you have a minute.
girl can sing all day anything! wooo loved it
Big ol' smile, my friend! So glad you enjoyed1
Powerful song and spiritual performance @kayclarity a favorite of mine of yours as well
I mention you in my judge's top list for week 73.
Check this to read the full
review here
https://steemit.com/openmic/@verbal-d/steemit-s-official-open-mic-judge-verbal-d-s-top-5-entries-for-week-73-original-blog