Line Cutter
Channel: Markologic Music
Date: 10/09/2021

From the album 2 + 2 = Mark.

LYRICS

Welcome to Markologic Interactive Experiences
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you may select an interactive experience now
you have selected, Line Cutter, from the Righteous Anger module
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standing in line at the grocery store
waiting to check out
my hands clench the shopping cart
but I cannot steer away from my frustration

the elderly man in front of me
places each individually-bagged green bean
in front of the cashier's dead eyes
two cents, she says
three cents

then, like a bolt of lightning he appears
sliding in front of me, like an oiled leopard
I open my mouth to speak
but say nothing
to the line-cutter

rage, unspeakable rage
at this rule-defier
apostate, idolator,
worshipping nothing but his own expedience

the elderly man is attempting to pay with two hundred Austro-Hungarian Kroener
it is backed by gold, he says
this line has been abandoned, long since forgotten by the civilization which begot it
the other shoppers will not look upon us

what has the line-cutter won by his treachery?
I think
staring at his pink, ham-like skull
what thin slice of time is worth the weathering of one's soul in the bitter winds of such corrosive sin?

finally, the cashier accepts payment
the line moves again
the line-cutter oozes to the checkout counter
I can see his crooked smile through the back of his head
and it disgusts me

but the cashier speaks
she says

"excuse me, I think that gentleman was in line ahead of you."

the line-cutter falls to his knees, and begs for mercy
but he shall find none where he is going
which is the back of the line
there is no mercy for scoundrels
no pity for the honorless thief

my flavor-blasted goldfish will be all the more delicious tonight
knowing that his children, and his children's children
will look to him with pleading eyes
and ask "why,
why are we consigned to this fate
always to wait at the back of this same line
never greeted by our fellow man
no, never acknowledged
why must we live in the shadow of God's light
always waiting
always and forever?"
and the line-cutter will only look into the middle-distance
at the cashier who will never ring up his prosciutto
a single tear rolling down his cheek

for there is only one path to salvation
one path to the light
and that is in the embrace of our Lord and Savior J-

no - wait - no I actually wasn't finished


welcome back to Markologic Interactive Experiences
we apologize
it appears that the narrative experience you chose was compromised
by Mormon hackers
they were just so respectful and courteous when they asked for our passwords
in hindsight it was a bit of an own goal
anyway, please see Struepsend at the front desk for a full refund
we hope you have enjoyed the time


ALBUM CREDITS

All music, lyrics, instruments, vocals by Mark Wittels, except Archimedes / Danse Bacchanale (music also by Camille Saint-Saëns) and Don't Worry Be Happy (lyrics also by Bobby McFerrin).

Cover art (and profile art) by Julia Zimmerman

Inspiration for the whole thing by Arin Rogers


Released under CC BY-NC 3.0 license.