Cargo Cult

[Hogeye]

Cargo Cult - Hogeye Bill

A remote Pacific island, once a base in World War Two
The acolytes now ritualize with things they always knew
Faux radios from bamboo and mock planes from fallen logs
Airstrips in the jungle made to praise and please the gods
Our ancestors are coming back from heaven as they should
Bringing holy cargo supernatural western goods.

Is not creation godly? Wealth divinely wrought?
The rude result of work and timeless toil our earthly lot?
Subsistence farming forms our frames equality man-made
A potlatch is preferrable to jealous violent raid.

Ah, but God provides
The Godhead will create
If only we can please him
If only we have faith
God will bestow his blessing
Cargo, precious cargo beatified
Brought by long-dead ancestors
On blessed winged dragons from the sky

A remote and lonely planet, once a place where kings had ruled
The citizens now ritualize with notions now retooled
Synthetic demagogues now reign, with power and their pelf
Good citizens should serve the State and place it above self
Our virtues stem from State when selfless sacrifice is shown
Bringing us its will, that serendipitous unknown.

Is democracy not godly? Wealth by rulers wrought?
The rude result of service and obedience our lot?
The rise and fall of nation-states our one and only frame
You're with us or against us, give your number then your name.

Ah, but State provides
The Rulers will create
If only we can please them
If only we have faith
The government gives blessings
Power, precious power beatified
Bought by long-dead soldiers
On blessed winged dragons from the sky

I brought an islander to a factory
I showed him the science, the how and why
He returned to his homeland
Told people of the ghosts of gods
Creating cargo coming from the sky.

I brought a citizen to a free country
I showed him how people can be self-owned
He returned to his State
Told people of dark heretics
Public enemies of the statist tome.