Songtext New religion Mary Chapin Carpenter

New religion

So it's been ages, miles and pages
All of those things that tell a story
Of catastrophe and glory
All of the hard stuff, it toughened us up
Ever the artists, punks and rebels
We wore defeats like they were medals

Back when we thought that
Time and love and hope were equal
Before the storms of life made us different people
I used to find myself walking through cathedrals
And for the price of pocket change
I'd light a candle in your name

I'm no believer in saints or seers
When every answer begged more questions
Was that a blessing or a lesson
And all of the hard stuff, turned into hard love
Chasing your ghost down dead end streets
I was forever incomplete
In the time it takes a phone to ring in my back pocket
It's like a thousand years ignited like a rocket
I would have given anything to stop it
As a stranger's voice droned on
Explaining you were gone
You were star dust, now you're cosmic

It's been ages, miles and pages
All of those things that make a story
Our catastrophes and glory
All of the journeys and their traveling mercies
Taught me how to stop and listen
And I found a new religion

My church is under canopies of oak trees
And the songs I hear make me feel they know me
There's never been a place I've found
That feels more holy
Numinous and complete
No more ghosts and dead end streets
Where air and spirit meet
And rebel hearts still beat
They're still beating