If there's a god

This is his land

Holy and bright the sun shines over hills, so evergreen

Such a spectacle to witness the mystical fauna

Out in the country, there lives a beast who plays the banjo

Years of abuse, the whips, the collars, muzzles, electric prods, and sharp steel hook

He'll make you sing, he'll make you cry, but most importantly he's got an education

A natural performer, with ample theoretical knowledge, smarter than your average bear

In faith, Baloo rose while the stage had been set

That glistening instrument laid across a green velvet altar

Intelligently manicured, he played the tune he had rehearsed for oh so long

The crowd clapped in time, while Baloo broke further into song

My attention was stolen as he started that second verse, sung southern-style

A small performer sat atop the rafters, high above the arena

Squabbling for balance, they made their way across the rickety scaffolding

Baloo meanwhile had stolen the hearts of the audience

The small talent was now situated directly above the bear

Carefully, they lowered themselves down towards the stage, by a thick rope

No one seemed to care, or at least they had some great expectations

The small-fry equipped with a whip, and for me, the full picture came into view

Altogether, we watched the abuse

Baloo merely flinched, now playing stronger and faster than before

The little whipper swung around while the banjo bear danced about the stage in ridicule

The grand comedy put us all in good spirits, as I recall hearing many shout their opinions on the show's excellence

Synchronized stomps and claps shook the massive tent's wood skeleton

Banjo Bear's bloodied back now dripped red onto the floor

As he continued to strum away, the audience jeered for more

Next thing you know

It'll be you

Oh

Next thing you know

It'll be you

Oh

Next thing you know

It'll be you

Oh

Next thing you know, it'll be you

Laughing the pain away

Kissing your true love

Lying to protect

Protecting evil

Thinking you're not normal

Harvesting faith in

Siphoning truth

Rejecting stability

Accepting adequacy

Getting old

Dying on that hill

Finding forgiveness

Finding yourself

Reading that book

Living for someone else's sake

And thriving on something that you love