ICE TEA Party – Part Three: The Sugar in the Blood

[Em – G – D – Em] They sang the anthem in a velvet tone [Em – G – D – Em] Said “freedom’s yours” from a marble throne [C – G – D – Em] But they stitched the flag with hungry thread [Em – G – D – Em] While schools were starving and factories bled [Em – G – D – Em] They passed the plate with a gospel grin [Em – G – D – Em] While locking the church from the poor within [C – G – D – Em] Said “God helps those who help themselves” [Em – G – D – Em] But not the child crying out for help ⸻ [C – G – D – Em] Welcome to the ICE TEA altar glow [C – G – D – Em] Where kindness is staged and mercy’s for show [C – G – D – Em] Crosses hang where the food lines stood [C – G – D – Em] And sugar runs hot in the nation’s blood ⸻ [Em – G – D – Em] He pledged his love to the red, white, blue [Em – G – D – Em] Now he’s packing boxes for a buck or two [C – G – D – Em] They gave him fireworks and a flag to wave [Em – G – D – Em] But no safe home and no decent wage [Em – G – D – Em] She lights a candle in a rusted tin [Em – G – D – Em] Sings hymns alone for what might’ve been [C – G – D – Em] Her prayers rise high, but the ceiling’s low [Em – G – D – Em] The roof leaks truth that the preachers won’t show ⸻ [C – G – D – Em] Welcome to the ICE TEA sugar drip [C – G – D – Em] Where sweet words rot and reality slips [C – G – D – Em] They pour out hope with a silver spoon [C – G – D – Em] While sweeping the dying under the tune ⸻ [Bridge] [Em – G – D – Em] Hugs in press pics, boots on backs [Em – G – D – Em] Policy dipped in patriotic wax [C – G – D – Em] They quote the saints, then close the door [C – G – D – Em] This ain’t love—it’s a metaphor for war ⸻ [Final Chorus – soft and slow] [C – G – D – Em] Welcome to the ICE TEA’s sweetest lie [C – G – D – Em] Where lullabies smother and justice dies [C – G – D – Em] They’ll hand you sugar and call it grace [C – G – D – Em] While they smile with blood on their Sunday face