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Law & Order

from C P R by Mychael John Thomas

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I always dreamed I might expand this to a full blown Christian Rock Opera...framed as a kind of a Shakespearean tragedy. It's partially autobiographical and partially a dramatization of some peoples fears for our country. It is one possibility of how things might transpire...Only minor lyric changes here and there...Originally relased on a tape "Promise Land" in 1996

lyrics

LAW AND ORDER

By Mychael John Thomas

I. THE MASTER PLAN

Narrator:
Johnny was born to Christian parents
Who loved him every day
They took him to church nearly every Sunday
To teach him Jesus’ way
They told him son you must always remember
Obey the Law of the Land
Always seek the Lord and read your Bible
And someday you will understand the Master Plan

Johnny was a boy in the early 60s
When his parents started him to school
Every morning he would say the Pledge of Allegiance
And try to learn the Golden Rule
The teacher always read a story from the Bible
And then she’d teach the Law of the Land
She spoke of truth and justice…The American Way
And tried to help him understand the Master Plan

Johnny spent his spare time drawing pictures
And listening to the radio
He liked to watch the lines moving to the music
When he let his mind go
The people in the neighborhood always encouraged
They said he had talented hands
They said always work hard…get an education
And someday you will understand…

II. PROBLEM CHILD

The Boys In The Band:
Hey Johnny we’re starting a band
And we heard you were the best on the block
We’re gonna jam at the Junior High dance
Do you wanna rock?

No rules no prayer in school
And the teachers can’t do anything
So you know everybody’s gonna listen
To whatever we wanna sing

Do you smoke? No you don’t!?
Well we can change all that
Just play your guitar get a bad attitude
And have a cigarette

CHORUS
And you can be a problem child
We can go wild…Problem child
You can be a problem child
Innocence defiled…Problem child

III. JOHNNY FOUND JESUS

Narrator:
“JESUS SAVES” read the sign
In front of a tent by the road
Youth revival here tonight
And Johnny decided to go

People sang…The organ played
And then about seven fifteen
Stoned out Johnny wandered in
And shook those Heaven memories

CHORUS (Choir/Narrator)
(Johnny found Jesus) And the tears began to flow
(Jesus saved Johnny) And the pain began to go
(Johnny found Jesus) At the alter in his heart
(Jesus gave Johnny) A brand new start
Johnny found Jesus (Did you hear about the rough boy?)
Oh Ohh
Johnny found Jesus (Everybody says he’s reborn…
I don’t believe it)

IV. BIBLES FOR THE PEOPLE

The Judge:
“…It is therefore the order of this court,
that anyone from this day forward being found to possess any Bible, shall be considered an enemy of the state and punishable by the Law of the Land…”

Johnny:
Many years ago I knelt before an alter
And gave my life to Jesus Christ
How can I submit to such an order?
No I must do what is right

When my country denies our maker
It’s the Word of God I choose
Even though my life may be in danger
Either way I cannot lose…There must be

CHORUS
Bibles for the people…We’ll go underground…providing
Bibles for the people…Till the leaders come around
I’m siding with the God of Love till the and of time is come
Survival for the people…Bibles for the people now

V. THE INFORMANT

“…911...”

Informant:
9 1 1 I’m kind of on the run
But something I think you should know
I found the hideout of that Bible outlaw guy
Listen close I’ll tell you where to go

911:
“You have done well fellow citizen.”

Narrator:
Came the voice across the phone
But no one was there to hear the empty praise
The informant was already gone…

Johnny and his troops were praying
When they heard police on every side
They calmly said their last “Amen”
And Johnny looked at them and smiled

VI. SHOWDOWN

“THIS IS THE POLICE! THROW DOWN YOU BIBLES AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP! I REPEAT, THROW DOWN YOUR BIBLES AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP! AND NO ONE WILL BE HURT”

Johnny:
Let’s make a deal since I’m the one you want
Let the others all go free
I’ll surrender…You can end the hunt
And do what you want with me…

“NO DEALS JOHNNY. THROW DOWN YOUR BIBLES AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!”

Narrator:
Johnny shook his head with a look of resign
As a tear rolled down his face
For he knew in that moment…His destiny
And what was about to take place

Slowly he stepped from the building
And holding his Bible high
He walked toward the lights the guns and the smoke
And looking into the sky he cried

VII. SURRENDER

Johnny:
I surrender you may choose my fate
But I cannot throw down God’s word
For man can make any law that he wants
But order comes from the Lord

My life belongs to Jesus
‘Cause He laid down His life for me
And maybe you can capture my body
But my soul is eternally free…I am free

The People:
(Did you hear about the rough boy?) Ohhh….
Choir:
(Johnny found Jesus)
Johnny:
Bibles for the people!
The People
(Johnny was born to Christian parents)


© 1996 / 2014 Mychael John Thomas, BMI

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from C P R, released January 31, 2015

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Mychael John Thomas Alabama

Mychael is originally from Nashville, TN. He has been in the music industry for 40 plus years as recording artst, songwriter, musician and producer. He composed, performed, engineered and produced all of his solo bandcamp releases.

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