300 Miles Away (Please Wake Up America)

Up in Knoxville

the Vols are taking the field,

down in Tuscaloosa

the Tide begins to roll,

out in Gatlinburg

they’re packin em in

for a big Dollywood weekend;

while 300 miles away

people die.

All across the nation

plans get underway,

for backyard barbecues

and family trips to the beach,

as supermarket shelves

are stacked in anticipation

with more than anybody

could possibly eat or drink;

while 300 miles away

people die.

Stunned by what they are seeing,

people watch the news

and shake their heads,

calling in 50 dollar pledges,

vowing to make a difference;

while 300 miles away

people die.

In Washington, in Jackson

and in Baton Rouge,

fingers are being pointed

as the blame game begins,

all across the nation

the great debate rages,

filling the blogs and chat rooms

with wisdom and advice

from every self-made expert

the internet has to offer;

while 300 miles away

people die.

Please wake up America,

we are all to blame,

we are all guilty,

we all watched and waited

from afar;

while 300 miles away

people died.

More than homes

and people have disappeared,

more than dreams are shattered,

more than a way of life is gone,

part of a nation has died with them.

Now is the time to stop

the finger pointing and blame,

now is the time to stop

worrying about the pursuit

of perpetual pleasure,

now is the time to reach out

and love one another

as never before,

now is the time to trust

in the One who can

heal all things,

now is the time for repentance;

please wake up America,

before it is too late.