OCTOBER 10, 2008

EVERCLEAR DEBUTS NEW SONG AND OFFERS IT AS FREE DOWNLOAD

EVERCLEAR’s got a lot to say on their new single, “Jesus Was a Democrat.” The song, penned by frontman ART ALEXAKIS, tackles religious and political hypocrisy head-on with lyrical vibrancy and epic rock n’ roll swagger. The multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated rock quintet doesn’t waste a note or a word on the politically charged, hyper-catchy new song. The song arrives as a free download via the band’s website (www.everclearonline.com) just in time for the 2008 presidential election, and it couldn’t be any more relevant.

EVERCLEAR debuted “Jesus Was a Democrat” at the 2008 GRAMMY’s Rock The Conventions show in Denver this August and it left the audience stunned, particularly with an opening salvo like “Jesus Christ didn’t have blue eyes or blond hair/He looked just like all those people that you want to kill” (*the full set of lyrics is below). About dropping this charge at the DNC, singer, guitarist and songwriter ART ALEXAKIS exclaims, “People looked shocked and excited at the lyrics in a good way.” A little sonic “shock and awe” never hurt anyone, especially before an election.

This isn’t ALEXAKIS’ first time standing up for a political cause. In 2000, he testified before Congress in favor of the “Deadbeat Dad” bill, and he also served as a Portland delegate at the 2004 DNC. However, the best way for him to get his point across is through music. “I’ve wanted to write this song for a long time. During the 1988 presidential campaign, the Right Wing made people believe that ‘Liberals’ were anti-American, anti-god and anti-Family Values. However, if you read Jesus’ words, he sounded like a liberal.”  Rather than condemning anyone or proselytizing, the song trumpets a message of love and tolerance.

ALEXAKIS continues, “I hope the song can start a dialogue in places where there wasn’t one before. I – like a lot of people who consider themselves Christians – get angry and bewildered at the intolerance of so many people who call themselves ‘Christians.’ They act and talk in ways that have nothing to do with the lessons of Christ. Look, sexism, racism, bigotry, and hate don’t have any place in a Christian’s life.”

As for his own choice for president, ALEXAKIS is clear about that too. “I think it’s imperative that we elect Barack Obama. His election will be a message to the whole world that in today’s America anyone can achieve their dreams, regardless of race, gender or economic strata.”

Above all, “Jesus Was a Democrat” sounds like an honest statement from true Americans.

“Jesus Was A Democrat” lyrics:

Jesus Christ didn’t have blue eyes or blond hair
He looked just like all those people that you want to kill
Spin your hell into a heaven you can sell
Make it look like California with a bible belt

Jesus didn’t look like the boy next door
Unless you live in Palestine
I wonder what you mean by the golden rule
I think it is a scary play on words
I wonder what they taught you back in Sunday school

I bet you think of him
As a nice clean long haired republican, nah
He would be all locked up in Guantanamo Bay
If he were alive today

He would have been a revolutionary wanted by the CIA
I picture him in all the wrong places finding diamonds in the dirt
A Star of David tattoo and a Che T-shirt
Jesus was a left wing radical Jew
Murdered by people like you

If Jesus was a democrat like the bible says he was
I don’t think he’s going to want to take the blame
For all the awful things you say and do in his name
If Jesus was alive today he would be sad to see
That it is no different than it used to be

He’s going to call you out
I am pretty god damned sure
He is going to be angry
He is going to be angry

You want to know what I think?
I think Jesus would have been a card carrying liberal
If he was a young man born in the USA
He would not be “fiscally conservative”
And he wouldn’t vote for John McCain

All those so called Christians that you see on TV
Maybe they scare Jesus like they scare me
Kick you the hell out of my temple too
Too many elephants in the room

If Jesus was a democrat like the bible says he was
I don’t think he’s going to want to take the blame
For all the awful things you people do and say in his name
If Jesus was alive today he would be sad to see
That it is no different than it used to be
Someday he’s going to call you out
I am pretty god damned sure
He is going to be mad
He is going to be angry
He is going to be mad
He is going to be mad

You say Jesus loves the little children

And I say I know that’s true
I say he loves all the Muslims and the Jews
All the addicts and the porn stars too
You say Jesus died to save us all from a fiery hell
I say Jesus died to save us
Save us from ourselves

Will you save me from myself?
If Jesus was a liberal
Like the red letters say he was
I know he would have big love
For all the killers and the racists
And the bully’s in this world

If Jesus was alive today
And you had a chance to meet him face to face
I’m pretty god damn sure that you and your friends
Would find some way to kill him all over again
You would kill him all over again
Again and again and again
Just like you always do
You do just what you always do