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lyrics

One day, long ago at the oaks of Mamre God upon Abraham called
To splain the haviors of his fellow man and tell him why man is worth saving:

“Hey man, Abraham, where have you been? Through all creation I been searchin for ya
To tell you I’m gwin in one day’s time to destroy Sodom and Gamorrah”

Abe said, “Hey there God, you sure got me thinking a lot and I think I got a proposition for ya
Say there’s sixty-two men in those cities of sin
With no idea of the bad shape they’re in
And no one to tell them how it’s all gonna end
And no chance to change if there’s no change to send
If I should show you sixty-two righteous men
Then would you save us in Sodom and Gamorrah?”

Well God put his finger up to his chin, he said, “Abe, you ain’t trine to bargain are ya?
I am The Lord, almighty and vain, and I made thee and I can destroy ya,”

Abe said, “Not so hot, now you got me on the spot, and if you’ll let me I’ve got an answer for ya
An injustice it seems that for a percentage share
You would presume to know every single person there
From the language in his teeth to the color of his hair
From his midnight grin to his twilight stare
Say, if this is how you judge then what do you even care
Who lives or dies in Sodom and Gamorrah?”

God said, “Alright, I am not gonna fight—go, you gotcher self till tumarrya
To find sixty-two men of the righteousest of ken, to spare you in Sodom and Gamorrah.”

Well, then Abraham thought, “Well, sixty-two sure seems a lot
For forty would the bargain still stand for ya?”
God willingly agreed he said, “If forty’s all you need,
Then it’s forty, and I’ll see you tumarrya.”

As God turned to go, Abe shouted from below, “Wait a minute, you’re not finished talkin are ya?
If forty’s understood then wouldn’t twenty be just as good
And would twenty satisfy any better than twelve would?
And would you take even a dozen of the best men if you could?
And even if you could, you should ask whether you should
When what makes a righteous man is but barely understood
On penalty of contract, autographed in blood
Imposed upon a people you once washed out with a flood
Is it really any wonder we don’t behave as we should
But go ahead and tell me, and please, be honest if you would,
cause I got pity for Sodom and Gamorrah.”

God said, “Abe, I’m amazed in this game you wanna play,
Is it really all that important for ya?
Very well, let’s be plain, find me even one good name,
And I’ll spare your precious Sodom and Gamorrah.”

Well the evening came and went, soon Abe’s time was nearly spent
To Mamre went Abraham on the morrow
And God laughed when he saw the lonesome tired Abraham
And he said, “Poor Abe, you’re not really surprised now, are ya?”

Abe said, “You earn your love through fear
I earn mine through love
Tho you may be omniscient, omnipresent and all that,
You don’t know what it’s like to live down here.”

credits

from Unravelled Tales - Volume 1, released March 5, 2021

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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