Bannerman


One man's grinning from behind the net
Waits 'til the camera's adjusted
Don't you worry 'bout the flak you'll get?
Aren't you scared of getting busted?
The ball gets booted
It hits a cross-beam
Up pops a banner: 'JOHN 3:16'

He don't worry 'bout the critics (they tow the line)
He don't worry 'bout the cynics (they love to whine)
He ain't gonna change the world, but he knows who can
Bannerman

Prime-time football in the Buffalo snow
Freezing his little epidermis
Lifts that banner at the first field goal
Drinks clam-chowder from a thermos
He's never missed a game
He never spells it wrong
He never talks back when they tell him, "Move along"

He don't worry 'bout the critics (they'll howl for days)
He don't worry 'bout the cynics (they naval-gaze)
He ain't gonna change the world, but he knows who can
Bannerman

Sports fans everywhere dying for a drink
But they've gotta find a well first
One man's ready with a banner and a wink
A whole lotta souls are getting well-versed
Every time I see him
I smile a little more
I can't help praying for another high score

He don't worry 'bout the critics (they've met their match)
He don't worry 'bout the cynics (they sniff and scratch)
He ain't gonna change the world, but he knows who can
Bannerman

Written by Steve Taylor © 1993 Warner Alliance Music/Soylent Tunes ASCAP

Taylor says, "I've done some satirical songs in the past. But the only problem with that is sometimes when you turn around and do more of a tribute song, some people think 'oh, he's making fun of the guy, right?' Far from the truth. This...song is a tribute to those brave men and women out there, risking hypothermia, out there in the stand in football games, holding up banners saying 'John 3:16'. They just want to tell people God loves them and Jesus died for them, and we're all for that. So this is a tribute to those brave bannermen and women."
(Taken from intro to song on "Liver" live album)

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