The Other Side of the Fence

At our last meeting, we asked if Sherrill Kennelly would share her lyrics to her song The Other Side of the Fence, and she graciously agreed. But that wasn't good enough for me. I invited her over tonight and record the song. Give it a listen, and let us know what you think. Is she channeling Woody Guthrie?

The Other Side of the Fence
By Sherrill Kennelly © 2010

It’s a dry hate risin' from her ash.
The phoenix sings to pierce the heart of man.
Flames rise up between. Disease our minds and add to misery.
Cortez, he’s back to conquer. It’s ancient history.
At heaven’s gate, there’s a key reserved for the homeland refugee.

The other side of the fence.
The other side of hate.
There’s a key at heaven's gate
For those who died along the way.

Jesus, He walked on the water.
Our neighbors, they walk across need.
Illusions of the truth, conscience clean, will leave a man to bleed.
Drug smugglers, miracles, and martyrs. Traffickers and folkloric ballet.
Illegal immigrants, cultured indigenous. “Go back home” rhetoric of today.

The other side of the fence.
The other side of heresy.
At heaven’s gate there’s a special key
For the homeland refugee.

Clutch tight, you, to your holy grail, you on the right side of fate.
It’s just a fence between, it separates the truth from cliche.
Apple pie thick as hate, they serve at the Minute Man Cafe.
On the wall a target silhouette, of an outlaw they have named Jose.

The other side of the fence.
The other side of heresy.
At heaven’s gate there’s a special key
For the homeland refugee.

The other side of the fence.
The other side of hate.
There’s a key at heaven's gate
For those who died along the way.

There’s a key at heaven's gate
For those who died for the American way.