[Sparse, Contemporary Intro] . . . . . . . . . . ! [Verse 1] In 1890 they signed a paper Said the practice was done But the revelation's still in the book Still doctrine for everyone [Verse 2] They sealed the men to multiple wives In temples across the land "For time" was ended, "eternity" wasn't Do you understand? [Pre-Chorus] The prophet speaks, the prophet's silent The doctrine shifts like sand What was commanded yesterday Today is contraband [Chorus] Is it still sudden day? Or have we learned to hide the night? Is it still sudden day? Or just a different kind of lie? They burned the press in 1844 They burned the practice in 1890 But the revelation remains And I wonder... I wonder... [Break] . . . . . [Verse 3] In the mountains they still practice What the mainline church denies The fundamentalists kept the faith While the rest learned compromise [Verse 4] And the tender trees still wither In communities we don't name The great throat still swallows Just with a different kind of shame [Chorus] Is it still sudden day? Or have we learned to hide the night? Is it still sudden day? Or just a different kind of lie? They burned the press in 1844 They burned the practice in 1890 But the revelation remains And I wonder... I wonder... [Bridge - the doctrinal question] Could it come back? If a prophet said the word? Could it come back? Would the faithful say they heard? The same God who commanded Is the same God they obey And what's doctrine in the eternities Could be doctrine here today Section 132 still says "If ye abide not that covenant Then are ye damned" It's still there It's still canon It's still waiting [Final Chorus - questioning, unresolved] Is it still sudden day? I want to believe it's light Is it still sudden day? Or are we just too tired to fight? The Expositor is ashes But we're singing what they swore The disease is known But is it cured? Or just waiting Behind the door? [Outro - spare, haunting] Still scripture... Still sealed... Still... [Fade to silence]
