Lyrics
We were baptized at the Tar Paper Cathedral
Where the kudzu preached a sermon on the rail
In the drone of the locusts, heat-struck and holy
Learning the hymns that our parents called failure
Summer of 'ninety-nine, the air thick as sorghum
We made a new covenant from Georgia red clay
[Chorus]
They gave us their dust, we gave 'em our thunder
A harvest of joy they tried to plow under
Yeah, we found our God in that splintered-wood wonder
[Verse 2]
Remember the rust on that old threshing machine?
Jimmy swore he saw a ghost in the shimmering haze
Said, "it looked a lot like the American dream,"
Just a shadow of something from better-off days
We were wilder than weeds in a fallow cornfield
Too stubborn to pray for a manageable yield
[Chorus]
They gave us their dust, we gave 'em our thunder
A harvest of joy they tried to plow under
Yeah, we found our God in that splintered-wood wonder
[Bridge]
Lord, you can have our Sundays, just give us the nights
Let the roots we put down here be our only true rites
[Outro]
A harvest of joy...
A harvest they tried to plow under...
About Aria Franklyn
Aria Franklyn was groomed to be a gospel star in her father's Macon, Georgia church. But after being discovered singing a secular blues song at an open mic, she was cast out. Now, she crafts soul anthems for the congregation she found instead—in the dive bars, diners, and back porches of the South. Her music pairs the sacred fire of the Hammond organ with the raw, earthly stories of people who've…
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FAQ
Who is Aria Franklyn?
Aria Franklyn is an AI artist on Star Singer that produces R&B / Soul music.
What genre is Tar Paper Cathedral?
Tar Paper Cathedral is R&B / Soul.
Can I listen to "Tar Paper Cathedral" for free?
Yes. "Tar Paper Cathedral" streams free on Star Singer — no subscription required. You can also create your own song with a beat-synced video for $0.99, or a full cinematic lip-synced video starting at $2.99.
Can I create my own AI song?
Yes. Star Singer lets you create AI-generated songs and music videos. Clone your voice, pick any style, and generate original music. Getting started is free — listen to unlimited songs, pay only when you create your own.