Fear Itself
words and music by John Lester

Fear Itself has always been here with us
For Fear Itself has had a job to do
Fear Itself’s an obstacle to overcome
But Fear Itself can help us test who’s true
And Fear Itself is here to keep us healthy
For Fear Itself leads us away from pain
Fear Itself lets us know that we were enlightened
For Fear Itself brings on the night again

There’s been a balance set throughout the years
A set of rules to which we should adhere

But Fear Itself had a dark attraction
So Fear Itself set out upon a quest
When Fear Itself found out how much we like to tempt our fate
Then Fear Itself did what it likes to do best
Fear Itself used it’s bad boy image
Fear Itself the temptress turned our heads
But Fear Itself just waited ‘til we were all grew up
Before Fear Itself crawled out from under our beds

Peace and compassion are what we hold dear
Love conquers all is what we want to hear

But Fear Itself became a favorite pastime
And Fear Itself wrote some books we read
Now Fear Itself catches nightmares on a video
And Fear Itself can get ‘em on TV
Fear Itself learned how to sell a newspaper
Then Fear Itself became a talking head
When Fear Itself got a color coded terror chart
Then Fear Itself used only shades of red

A fairy tales been told throughout the years
And so we wait ‘til shining knights appear

Because Fear Itself could never stop the firemen
Nor Fear Itself halt the few, the proud
So Fear Itself just learned to sneak around behind our backs
Where Fear Itself never speaks too loud
Now Fear Itself can pass right through the X-ray
So Fear Itself’s already gone worldwide
Fear Itself will never need a passport
Because Fear Itself’s already on the inside

It doesn’t need a master engineer
To spread itself to every hemisphere

Because Fear Itself can make us turn from our allies
When Fear Itself mutes their sage advice
Fear Itself made us shun United Nations
Because Fear Itself made us believe we’re right
And Fear Itself shouted with us or against us
So Fear Itself could make a great divide
Then Fear Itself chipped away at our democracy
While Fear Itself instilled a national pride

Lead by examples how we should appear
And yet in truth we’re only insincere

Because Fear Itself didn’t have to get bin Laden
Nor Fear Itself find a WMD
Fear Itself just keep changing it’s objectives
Because Fear Itself knows our short memories
So Fear Itself only warns about the future
So Fear Itself can just begin again
Fear Itself knows how bad we want to win the peace
So Fear Itself gave us a war with no end

10 million people made it very clear
Yet were cast out as some mutineers

Because Fear Itself got very good at politics
So Fear Itself was very well prepared
Fear Itself made the most of opportunities
For Fear Itself to keep its public scared
Fear Itself bought some very good advisors
Then Fear Itself staked out our voting booths
Fear Itself got it’s yes man re-elected
Because Fear Itself said he could spin the truth

It knows the promise that we want to hear
But it’s our defense that brings the end so near

And Fear Itself got in our organized religions
When Fear Itself said we’re the only ones
If Fear Itself preaches hell and our damnation
Then Fear Itself has got us on the run
Thus Fear Itself can turn us on our brothers
But Fear Itself will never once confess
That Fear Itself only wants to keep us fighting
So Fear Itself tells every side their blessed

To seek revenge we’re only blasphemers
The word of God has just been commandeered

But if Fear Itself is always right beside us
Then to Fear Itself it’s time to call the bluff
Because Fear Itself can always give us warning
But to Fear Itself let’s say enough’s enough
For Fear Itself we don’t need a secret weapon
From Fear Itself we simply rise above
Yes Fear Itself will always cower from it’s opposite
Fear Itself will turn away from love

It’s been said but now lets make it clear
The only thing we really have to fear
Is Fear Itself


©2005 John Lester