Any chimp can play human for a day
And use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform;
And run for office on election day;
And fancy himself a real decision maker,
Then deploy more troops than salt in a shaker.
But it’s a jungle when war is made,
And you’ll panic and throw your own shit at the enemy.
The camera pulls back to reveal your true identity.
Look, it’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing,
A smoking gun holding ape.

Any asshole can open up a museum;
Put all of the things he loves on display
So everyone can see them.
The house, the car, a thoughtful wife;
Ordinary moments in his ordinary life.
But if she blinks or smiles, she’ll give you away;
‘Cause no one wants to pay to see her happiness.
No one wants to pay to see her day to day
And i’m not buying it either,
But i’ll try selling it anyway.

Any idiot can play greek for a day
And join a sorority or write a tragedy;
And articulate all that pain,
And maybe you’ll get paid.
But it’s a sin when success complains,
And your writers block- it don’t mean shit.
Just throw it against the wall and see what sticks.
Gotta write a hit – i think this is it.

It’s a hit.

And if it’s not,
Then it’s a holiday for a hanging,
Yeah it’s a holiday for hanging
Yeah it’s a holiday for hanging, yeah
Shoo-bop-shoo-bop my baby

Any fool can play executioner for a day,
And say with fingers pointed in both directions
‘He went that way,
It’s only a switch or syringe,
I’m exempt from eternal sins…’
But you still wear a cross,
And you think you’re gonna get in…

Ah, but the pardons never come from upstairs;
They’re always a moment too late,
But it’s entertainment; keep the crowd on their toes,
It’s justice, we’re safe.
It’s not a hit, it’s a holiday.
Shoo-bop-shoo-bop my baby

It’s a holiday for hanging, yeah
It’s a holiday for hanging, yeah
It’s a holiday for hanging, yeah
It’s a holiday for hanging, yeah

I’m a holiday for hanging,
I’m a holiday for hanging,
I’m a holiday yeah
I’m a holiday for hanging,

It’s a holiday for hanging, yeah

Rilo Kileys sang “It’s a hit” fra deres tredje album More Adventures (2004) burde have været et hit. Men med sin intelligente tekst (af Jenny Lewis) og sin fængende, lidt rå indierockmelodi ramte den nok alligevel for langt ved siden af den mainstreamstandard, der skal til for at få kasseapperatet til at klinge og sende  sangen op af hitlisterne. Til gengæld er den forblevet et hit i mit hoved, fordi den tekstligt og musikalsk understreger, at poppen både kan levere tankevækkende, sprogligt finurlige sangtekster, der rammer både Kloge åge og Maren i kæret – og smittende popmelodier, der i deres arrangement tør tillade sig at have kanter, der ikke bare behager det forvænte popøre. Ethvert røvhul kan åbne et museum, men ikke ethvert røvhul kan skrive sanglinjer som “It’s a holiday for hanging, yeah”. Jenny Wilson kan – og Rilo Kiley kan sætte teksten i scene med overbevisning og pondus.