The Rough & Tumble// "My Atheist Sister"// Live with Local Congregation of Kind Souls

"My Atheist Sister" written and performed by The Rough & Tumble. From Hymns For My Atheist Sister & Her Friends To Sing Along To.
Thank you to our Local Congregation of Kind Souls for raising their voices with us.
Filmed at the West Newbury Hall in West Newbury, Vermont.
Filmed and edited by Garret Harkawik.

My Atheist Sister
Written by Mallory Graham & Scott Tyler

V1
My sister and all her friends,
they get together on the weekends
They drink some wine and sing some hymns
They know by heart but don’t believe in.
And they pack socks and clean water
And granola bars in paper bags–
And they hand them out to the unhoused,
My Atheist sister and all of her friends.

V2
My sister she won the award–
“Atheist of the Year.”
She takes sick days and goes to the capitol,
Swears on the Bible and bends some ears about
Equal rights for her daughter and
For all the people living here.
I’ve never believed in her more
Than when she won the award “Atheist of the Year.”

Bridge 1:
And her kids grow, and we all know
The award isn’t just for herself.
It’s for all the years of work
Of keeping the Bible she was beat with off of her shelf.
She believes in things unseen
Like what holds us together and gravity;
And empathy and charity,
And even believers like me.

V3
The award it sits on the shelf
With the moonshine I bought her and the boxes of wine.
Next to it sits the upright piano
Where she plays The Doxology late in the night–

Bridge 2:
When you’re scared and full of doubt,
And for your sins, God cast you out.
Who will love you without fear?
An Atheist in riot gear.

V4
My sister and all her friends,
They get together on the weekends.
They drink some wine and sing some hymns
They know by heart but don’t believe in
Because belief is a funny thing–
It don’t much matter what you think,
But only about what you bring
And the harmony you choose to sing.

Tag:
So here’s a song to sing with them,
My Atheist sister and all of her friends.