Distortions of Faith The Hold Steady

[Verse 1]
The performance was scheduled for Pentecost
They erected a stage in the square
The security scanned as militia men
Training guns off the top of the stairs
It was billed as The Gift To The People
A distraction from weeks of unrest
There were screen printed trinkets in stalls on the street
Spray painted sheets making threats
The Escalades rolled up the promenade without any passengеrs
At dawn every day
A delibеrate display
Her entourage entered the lobby and checked in discreetly
The pills made their play
She slept really late and she dreamt in distortions of faith

[Verse 2]
The day of the show there were omens
A black fingernail in her bed
The opening number abandoned in progress
Begonias backstage were all dead
It was hard to determine what set off the skirmish
The barriers buckled and broke
The tear gas it hissed out from the canisters
The audience ghostly in smoke
They shut down the stage
And the motorcade rolled to the airport
Her bandleader wept when they boarded the jet
The pilot said prayers right there in front of the instruments
Said it's not what it seems
And nobody laughed when
The gunner said living the dream