Divided by Design

[Intro – slow roots rock groove, piano and organ] On the corner of the evening news They sell another point of view Two sides shouting through the glass Both convinced the die is cast Someone’s pulling quiet strings Behind the noise of louder things While the crowd begins to climb Different walls at the same time [Pre-Chorus] Raise the flags, choose a side Let the simple story ride [Chorus] We are divided by design Lines drawn deep in borrowed minds Every shout and every sign Part of someone else's rhyme While we fight to prove we're right In the theater of the night Someone writes the grand headline We were divided by design [Verse 2] Red and blue across the screen Like a never-ending scene Every voice a sharpened blade In a careful masquerade Truth is standing off to the side Looking tired, a little shy While the drums of outrage roll Like thunder in a bowl [Pre-Chorus] Pick a hero, pick a blame Spin the wheel and feed the flame [Chorus] We are divided by design Lines drawn deep in borrowed minds Every chant and every sign Part of someone else's rhyme While we fight to prove we're right In the circus of the night Someone writes the grand headline We were divided by design [Bridge – softer, reflective] Maybe one day we will see The puppets dancing quietly Strings above both you and me Hidden in plain history [Final Chorus – fuller harmonies] We were divided by design Thread by thread and line by line Every echo, every sign Part of someone's grand design While we argued in the square Someone moved another chair Now the curtain starts to shine We were divided by design [Outro – fading organ and vocal harmonies] Divided… divided… Divided by design