From the recording Backroad Homegrown Country
Lyrics
Burn It Down
by Glen Hofbauer
My name is Jeremiah, I run a dry goods store
Was my daddy’s place before that bloody Civil War
It’s October in Chicago, this year’s been so damn dry
A fire’s been reported almost every night
But I know tonight is different when people stampede by
Shouting “Fire’s jumped the river!” with fear in their eyes
Desperation takes the crowd Red Rider’s on his way
I hear somebody screamin’ “It’s Judgment Day!”
Red Rider’s ragin’, and I can hear him say….
Burn it down, all the churches
Burn it down, every street
Burn it down, all the houses
Burn it down, every dream
Burn it down, all the bridges
Burn it down, all that stands
Burn it down, all the righteous
Burn it down, all the damned
Till all is ashes on the ground, burn it down
We crowd along the lake shore; I run in and turn around
It must be Armageddon, whole damn world is burning down
Tornadoes of fire, at least a mile high
Embers raining down, fire’s falling from the sky
He roars like a hundred canons, explosions shake the earth
But there’s mesmerizing beauty as I watch my city burn
When the hot blast approaches, we dive into the waves
Rich and poor all praying, we see another day
Red Rider’s ragin’, and I can hear him say….
Burn it down, all the churches
Burn it down, every street
Burn it down, all the houses
Burn it down, every dream
Burn it down, all the bridges
Burn it down, all that stands
Burn it down, all the righteous
Burn it down, all the damned
Till all is ashes on the ground, burn it down
Red Rider ran unchecked for nearly two long days
Devoured all he could, before it finally rained
But while he raged, oh, as Red Rider raged
I could hear him say….
Burn it down, all the churches
Burn it down, every street
Burn it down, all the houses
Burn it down, every dream
Burn it down, all the bridges
Burn it down, all that stands
Burn it down, all the righteous
Burn it down, all the damned
Till only ashes on the ground, burn it down
Yea, burn it down
Oh, yea, yea, yea burn it down
Hey, hey, hey burn it down
Hey, burn it down