Brady Earnhart -- THANK GOD VIRGINIA'S ON OUR SIDE

THANK GOD VIRGINIA'S ON OUR SIDE mp3

Note: I wrote and recorded this song in mid-2006. Since then, sadly, Virginia voters did ratify the Marshall/Newman amendment, though by an unusually low margin. I believe the day is coming soon when this vote will be looked back upon with embarrassment. The sentiments of the song and comments below still stand.

(A very pro-gay law professor once told me that preventing gay marriage is the very least of the harm that political maneuvers like the Marshall/Newman amendment can do. To my mind, the worst of it is that they give tacit encouragement to manifestations of hatred that I believe would send shivers down most people's spines. I wish more people thought in terms of effects instead of values. If the amendment is ratified, just because some of its supporters had high religious intentions doesn't mean it won't give comfort to a violent bigot who believes he's getting a wink and a nod from the government of the Commonwealth. But what would the amendment really accomplish anyway, besides using a hot-button issue to galvanize support of the far-right wing of the Republican party? "Defense of marriage" arguments are flimsy to begin with, since people honestly interested in defending the institution would spend their time much more effectively working to reform divorce laws. "Marriage is about reproduction" arguments are no good either--unless, for a start, you outlaw marriage for anyone past childbearing age. The amendment would have toxic effects far outweighing any good it pretends to accomplish.

If you're a Virginian, please vote NO this November and remind your friends to do the same.)

The theme of my talk tonight
Is one knot people ain't meant to tie.
Y'all don't just sit there blinking
I'm only saying what ya all are thinking:
What's the world coming to
When gays wanna marry like people do?
In a cultural World War Three
It's a sodomite WMD.

Thank God Virginia's on our side.
Thank God her blessing's on
The right of the people to say what's wrong
& Keep one state safe for believers.

Good people of my Piedmont town,
You're having trouble seeing which way is down.
Once Jack gives Sam a ring
How's mine gonna mean a thing?
So coming to a vote this fall
Is God's own amendment to help us all
Stay married for as long as we live
Or find a hottie we can run off with.

Thank God Virginia's on our side . . .

What's more friends, if you act fast
We'll throw in free with each vote you cast
A special bonus anyone can find
If you read in between the lines:
Say you wanna pick a fight
With someone whose looks you just don't like.
Here's just the thing to remind you
You've got the spirit of the law behind you.

And the spirit of the law is in the courthouse
The spirit of the law is in the churchyard
The spirit of the law is on the sidewalk
The spirit of the law is in the hiring line
The spirit of the law is in the bedroom
The spirit of the law is in the barracks
The spirit of the law is in the pool hall
The spirit of the law is in the punchline
The spirit of the law is in the tire iron
The spirit of the law is on the playground

Like last week--a call comes in:
Danny's in detention today again
For beating up some sissy kid
(Third time since his mama split).
He told me all about it tonight
& I tried hard to hide my pride.
He says, "Daddy it was not my fault--
You shoulda seen him try to throw a ball."

Thank God Virginia's on our side.
Thank God her blessing's on
The right of the right to say you're wrong
& Keep one state straight for believers.