City of Holy Faith [James Young Group featuring JY]

City Of Holy Faith
Written by James Young, Ken Harck, Hank Horton, Lou DePasqua
Lead Vocals by James Young

Put some blood on the drums
We're gonna take a stance
We're callin' back the spirits
To do that tribal dance

In the name of Jesus
They claimed this property
Cause the one true religion
Don't need no quit claim deed

You're the City of Holy
Faith in the desert sands
Lady Macbeth you are
Red blood is on your hands
You're the City of Holy Faith

Better hide the children
And get on your knees and pray
Cause in the room next to the altar
Holy men have gone astray

In the City of Holy Faith
An evil secret hides
Fallen angels there
Well sheltered from the light
In the City of Holy Faith

"In the middle of the second millennium, they came to the high desert; and, in the name of God, they did things that pleased Satan"

Take a young mind
And twist it all around
But on the day of your atonement
You hide on hallowed ground

In the City of Holy Faith...

Interpretation

Based on the early history of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The song starts with a reference to the beginning of the Pueblo Revolt in 1680.

Put some blood on the drums
We're gonna take a stance
We're callin' back the spirits
To do that tribal dance

The Pueblo Indians, led by a Pueblo religious leader named Popé, rallied around their ancient religious beliefs and practices in leading the revolt, which was prompted by a Spanish crackdown on ancient religious practices in 1675.

In the name of Jesus
They claimed this property
Cause the one true religion
Don't need no quit claim deed

When the Spanish founded the original settlement in 1598, they did so by confiscating a pueblo from the Indians that lived there. They founded the settlement with the supposed intent of converting the natives to Christianity. At the time, the Spanish considered it their divine right as Christians to claim any property in God's name.

You're the City of Holy
Faith in the desert sands
Lady Macbeth you are
Red blood is on your hands
You're the City of Holy Faith

In Act 5 Scene 1 of Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth's guilt for her part in the assassination of King Duncan manifests as a monolog in which she is sleepwalking and tries to wash the imaginary blood from her hands, saying "out damned spot!" In the same way, the Spanish Christians have metaphorical blood on their hands.