Should The Bible Be Banned

My name is Dave
I killed my brother
I whacked an axe through his head
On the hottest day of the year
My blood was boiling
I said, "You're dying"
And so the blood flowed

I'm in jail
The press were eager to question me
"How could you do such a thing?"

My father hated me
He always took my brother's side
For Christmas he would get a car
And I'd be given 50p
All alone in my room
Just a Bible
Of Cain and and Abel I'd read

How my heart bled for Cain
He had problems but God ignored them
It made me so mad

I'm in jail
When the story broke 
Placards read
"Now should the bible be banned?"

I'm in jail
When the story broke 
Placards read
"Now should the bible be banned?"

The Home Secretary is looking closely into it
Could a copycat killer copy the Book of Genesis?

Should the bible be banned
To keep the peace?
Should the bible be banned
To keep the peace?
Should the bible be banned
To keep the peace?
Should the bible be banned
To keep the peace?
Should the bible be banned

To keep the peace?
Should the bible be banned
To keep the peace?
Should the bible be banned
To keep the peace?
Should the bible be banned
To keep the peace?
 

notes: Released as a single in April 1988, this playful satire is probably one of the band's most "rockin" songs, musically at least.  Never hesitating to confront society with its inherent and at times obscene contradictions, Malcolm raises the seemingly humorous question, "Could a copycat killer copy the Book of Genesis?" and imagines the effects this would have on contemporary England.

Cain was of course the first murderer according to the Christian Bible.  After killing his brother Abel out of jealousy for his father's favor, God exiled Cain and put a conspicuous mark on his face, so that everyone would know the crime he had committed.

Book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible wherein the story of creation is told.

Home Secretary refers to "the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order in the United Kingdom; his or her remit includes policing, the criminal justice system, the prison service, internal security, and matters of citizenship and immigration. The Home Office has also previously dealt with social issues, including social exclusion, equality and race relations, but the responsibility for these areas is now held by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister" (from Wikipedia).

Malcolm:

I should think this is our most popular song.  The lyric is about censorship, imagining a situation in which a psychopath uses the Bible as a justification for his actions. Naturally, no one would call for the Bible to be banned if such a thing happened. But whenever a murderer claims to be inspired to kill by a Hollywood horror film, then you can be sure there will be calls for the film to be banned. During the guitar solo, the voices you can hear were recorded
just after Bobby Kennedy's assassination. Tim added this.

found on: That's All Very Well, But..., The Sounds Machine EP3 (Compilation)

 

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