Church
Fairground Saints Lyrics
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it's that there ain't no gold in California
And my back is broke
From this old Oxen's yoke I'm wearing for you
Train tracks went through the woods
filled up with foreign goods
Steam whistle in my ear
Confirms my biggest fears
River waters rise
'Cross the open range
You're gonna hear that settler's cry
Well if there's one thing I know
it's that we talk too deep in California
and he sung me some words
some South American love song gone and stolen
We tread on hallowed ground
good Lord don't make a sound
It's gonna die down in the glen
dam loved by wealthy men
That train is gonna come
It's gonna bring that city steel
Brother you can't run
From the devil's crooked deal
Our church is gonna change
Our church is gonna change
That flag was flying on fire
My bible burned to the ground
If you train your ear on top of wires
You think you're safe and sound
But the church is gonna change
Cross the open range
You'll hear the settler's cry
That train is gonna come
Bring that city steel
Brother you can't run
From the devil's crooked deal
Yeah the church is gonna change
Yeah the church is gonna change
Yeah the church is gonna change
Yeah the church is gonna change
The lyrics to Fairground Saints' song Church talk about change, loss, and the consequences of progress in California during the 19th century. The first verse focuses on the singer's physical and emotional exhaustion due to working hard for someone else's benefit, with the added metaphor of the oxen's yoke representing the burden of the work. The second verse turns to the arrival of the train and the changes it brings with it, bringing foreign goods and a steam whistle that signals the end of the old way of life. The chorus repeats the phrase "our church is gonna change," using it as a metaphor for the way that everything is going to be different and not necessarily for the better. The third verse introduces the idea of cultural appropriation when the singer mentions a South American love song being stolen and sung by another person. The final verse uses the imagery of a burning flag and a bible to illustrate the idea that the old ways are being replaced whether people want them to or not, with the sound of the train's whistle signaling the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
'Cause if there's one thing I know
The singer begins by expressing their unwavering conviction in a particular truth.
it's that there ain't no gold in California
The singer reflects on the lack of wealth in their current surroundings.
And my back is broke
The singer describes their physical pain and exhaustion.
From this old Oxen's yoke I'm wearing for you
The singer attributes their hardship to their efforts on behalf of someone else.
Train tracks went through the woods
The singer observes the changing landscape due to human activity.
filled up with foreign goods
The singer notes the impact of global trade on their town.
Steam whistle in my ear
The singer hears a loud, industrial noise that disrupts their peace.
Confirms my biggest fears
The singer's anxieties about the future are reinforced by the noise.
Our church is gonna change
The singer predicts a major transformation in their community.
River waters rise
The singer observes the natural environment changing as well.
'Cross the open range
The singer references the vast, unsettled terrain outside of their town.
You're gonna hear that settler's cry
The singer imagines the struggles of pioneers who came before.
Well if there's one thing I know
The singer repeats their original statement, emphasizing the certainty of their beliefs.
it's that we talk too deep in California
The singer criticizes the pretentiousness of their fellow Californians.
and he sung me some words
The singer recalls a personal encounter with someone who offered them comfort or inspiration.
some South American love song gone and stolen
The singer reflects on the cultural appropriation and exploitation that occurs in their society.
We tread on hallowed ground
The singer acknowledges the sacred nature of their surroundings.
good Lord don't make a sound
The singer prays for divine intervention or guidance.
It's gonna die down in the glen
The singer predicts the eventual end of a particular phenomenon or struggle.
dam loved by wealthy men
The singer notes the disproportionate power and influence of the rich.
That train is gonna come
The singer references the inevitability of change and progress.
It's gonna bring that city steel
The singer anticipates the influence of urbanization on their town.
Brother you can't run
The singer advises someone to face their problems instead of trying to escape them.
From the devil's crooked deal
The singer references the presence of evil or corruption in society.
Our church is gonna change
The singer repeats their earlier prediction, emphasizing its inevitability.
That flag was flying on fire
The singer observes a symbol of their nation or community being consumed by flames.
My bible burned to the ground
The singer's religious faith or moral compass is destroyed or lost.
If you train your ear on top of wires
The singer suggests a way to eavesdrop or gather information clandestinely.
You think you're safe and sound
The singer underscores the false sense of security that comes from surveillance or espionage.
Yeah the church is gonna change
The singer, and possibly others around them, repeat the refrain to emphasize the coming transformation.
Writer(s): Matthew Wilder, Mason van Valin, Elijah Edwards
Contributed by Nathaniel E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.