Music

Welcome to Struggleville   Run Time: 4:19

Written by Bill Mallonee for Russachugama Music and CyBrenJoJosh (BMI) ©1994

all is quiet on the western front
there appears to be a lull
john and jane doe are sleeping well tonight
with the little thoughts inside their skulls
salome she's undressed to the nines
and although a few pounds fatter
she got pavlov's bells on her ankles and wrists
she coming at you with a platter

so i stole down to the waterfront
to escape the desert heat
oh what on earth you gotta do around here
to try and get yourself a drink
heard john the baptist preaching
"make way for the King
but if you want to recognize Him
you gotta tell me all your sins"

they are building a new gallows
for when You show up on the street
polishing the electric chair
they're gonna give You a front row seat
heard a sneer outside the garden
salutation so well heeled
"welcome all you suckers to struggleville"

i've been trying to negotiate peace
with my own existence
she got a stockpile full of weaponry
she breaking every cease-fire agreement
oh the whole thing is full of decay
as sure as i'm made of dust
and into rust i know
the beast is falling

they are building a new gallows
for when You show up on the street
polishing the electric chair
they're gonna give You a front row seat
heard a sneer outside the garden
salutation so well heeled
"final stop no points beyond struggleville
welcome all you suckers to struggleville"

Did You Know?

The "Welcome to Struggleville" single was a Top 10 AAA radio hit in 1994. Bill cites an Edward Knippers painting, The Prize (Salome with the Head of John the Baptist) as inspiration for this song. He saw the painting in IMAGE Journal. Bill says, "The painting that inspired S'ville is active, lurid and altogether unmasking of the evil in the high places during the days of Jesus' earthly ministry...." He describes the song as being Dylanesque in the sense that there is a collage of different images moving in and out.

This song was covered by Edwin McCain in his 2006 release Lost in America. On this same album, Edwin also covers Mallonee's "Babylon."

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