The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

I don't really know what it is about the band Brand New that demands my continuous attention. Their music incites this feeling of home in me, of reassurance that everything isn't as bad as it appears. So even though I may go a month or so without listening to one of their albums, it isn't long before I get the urge and go on a two-week binge of nothing but the three albums and unreleased tracks that they've produced.

In my opinion, the band gets better with age and their latest album from November 2006 is their outright best. "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" takes a painful look into the souls of men. What it finds is that no matter what we have done for ourselves we are pathetic creatures lost without the hand of our creator.  However, those that seek Him, are often most vulnerable to the attacks of the one that opposes Him.

This album is about that struggle: The want to do good and the devastation of the failure to do so.

Below are the lyrics to the song Coca-Cola, a bonus track for the album and video of Jesse Lacey, the band's frontman, singing it live. (Amazing performance by the way.)

"Coca-Cola"

There's blood and feathers
On my dumb paws
You ain't nothing but a dead duck
I ain't nothing but a hound-dog.

You seep in the windows and vents.
I lay in the grass and I lose your scent.
If God gave me grace, then why aren't a graceful?

My joints are frozen, cold, old, and idle.

If it's by air
Then I don't want to know
If we all don't take cover
We're all gonna fall back in love again

You work late and fight off your boss
If your patient dies, take the night off

They've worked out
All of the bugs
And if you have enough money
You can buy love

You work out your reception seating
While I sing, sing, sing
These ten lords still leaping
With the mark on your breast from your baby teething

Give him my name if he is needing.

If it's by sea
Then I don't want to know
If we all don't take cover
We're all gonna fall back in love again
"Bless your beautiful hide."
And curse your God when your friends die

If it's by air
Then I don't wanna know
If we all don't take cover
We're all gonna fall back in love again

You work late, fight off your boss
If the patient dies, then take the night off.

Cheers