The Tea is Sweet, Bless Your Heart

[Verse 1] There's a camera in the cornbread, wires in the wine Pastor’s got a dossier, and Grandma’s doin’ time Cousin Billy's building bomb shelters in the yard And the cook’s been askin’ questions — a little too hard [Pre-Chorus] They smile when they see you, then they vanish when it’s dark Say, “The tea is sweet, bless your heart” [Chorus] They're tappin' on the window, they’re hidin' in the trees With a bible in one hand, and subpoenas in their jeans They butter up your biscuit, then they tear your soul apart The tea is sweet... bless your heart [Verse 2] There’s a drone above the diner, a mole in the choir Sheriff’s on the payroll and the judge is a liar The waitress wears a wire, the preacher’s got a past And the jukebox keeps on skippin’ over Johnny Cash [Pre-Chorus] They’ll swab your cheek for Jesus, scan your license in the dark Say, “The tea is sweet, bless your heart” [Chorus] The devil’s in the jukebox, the feds are in the pews The cook’s got cyanide and Grandma’s cookin’ clues They lace your lemonade, then pretend it's sweet and tart The tea is sweet... bless your heart [Bridge - Spoken Word Breakdown] Now son, don’t trust the smile of a man in a tie And never eat grits from a man who won’t cry The news don’t talk — it sings in code And all the angels wear area codes [Final Chorus - Slow & Haunting] So sit down, be still, take this pie made with lard And remember — the tea is sweet… …bless your heart.