Modern Art
Open your doors, let us in!
You can absolve us all of our sin
Let us worship together in these hallowed halls
Bow to the icons hanging on walls
Herald the new religion
Though the rules remain the same:
Lambs still led to the slaughter
Shepherds still counting their gain
But there’s no religion can compare
To that of modern art
And there’s no business quite like the business
Of dealing in the human heart
Frame the human spirit
Then hang it on a wall
Make ’em dance while you call the tune
Make the infinite small
Render it safe
Give it a name
Force a confession
Make the artist explain
The disposition, the exposition
The acquisition of art
But there’s no religion can compare
To that of modern art
And there’s no business quite like the business
Of dealing in the human heart
Art thou still trying to break free from Rome
A rebellious child who wants the comforts of home?
The imposition, the deposition
The demolition of art
Herald the new religion
Though the rules remain the same:
Doges denouncing the names
Critics still fanning the flames
We’ve built our pristine chapels
In every city you’ll find
Where the lights are so bright
The walls are so white
The blind must lead the blind
We cannot see the primary
Colour of our own bleeding hearts
For the colour of money has turned our heads
So we patronise the arts
And we stand in awe before those at the door
And we patronise the arts
Heart dealers – false prophets
False healers
High priests of pain
Babylon’s whores on the gain
But there’s no religion can compare
To that of modern art
And there’s no business quite like the business
Of dealing in the human heart
But the heart rescinds
As the intellect wins
In the name of modern art
Modern art
Modern art
Modern art
Modern art
Art
Sacra conversazione
Ars moriendi
Arte povera
Scratch your head
Sit and stare
And you try and explain pictures to a dead hare
© Felicity Buirski 1987