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.
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