WHEN GOD’S NOT ANSWERING [Verse 1] The girls in the bathroom are speaking in tongues, Mascara running like ink from their lungs, One’s kissing a stranger, one’s fixing her crown, One says, “I swear I won’t do it again,” Then does it before the sun goes down. The city’s a church with the lights turned red, Neon crucifix over motel beds, Everybody’s praying to something tonight— A bottle. A body. A dangerous text. A God who left us on read. [Pre-Chorus] Amen. A-woman. A disaster. Nobody taught us What comes after. [Chorus] When God’s not answering, When God’s not answering— The city’s full of substitutes. When God’s not answering, When God’s not answering— Everybody worships something. What did you choose? When God’s not answering. [Verse 2] I knew a saint with nicotine fingers, She could quote scripture better than preachers, But she’d still cry in supermarket aisles Like heaven charged interest on being alive. The rich kids snort salvation from bathroom sinks, The poor kids find theirs in engagement rings, Everybody’s trying to outrun the dark— Different costumes. Same shark. [Pre-Chorus] Halo. Noose. Same circle. Depends where you’re standing. [Chorus] When God’s not answering, When God’s not answering— The city’s full of substitutes. When God’s not answering, When God’s not answering— Everybody worships something. What did you choose? When God’s not answering. [Bridge] Maybe hell isn’t fire. Maybe it’s spending your whole life Mistaking hunger for love. Maybe it’s calling every wound A doorway. Maybe it’s kneeling at the wrong altar So long Your knees forget how to stand. Maybe that’s why the saints look sad In every painting. They know. They know. They know. [Final Chorus] When God’s not answering, When God’s not answering— The city’s full of substitutes. When God’s not answering, When God’s not answering— Everybody worships something. She chose money. He chose oblivion. I just chose a temporary god. Everybody worships something. I just chose the devil I knew. Everybody worships something. I just chose the long way down. When God’s not answering. When God’s not answering. When God’s not answering— The neon saints start talking.
