Track 11 — King and Lawgiver
Prophet. Mayor. General. Presidential candidate. “We will not acknowledge any man as king or lawgiver to the church. Christ is our only king.”
Tracks
Every track on Sudden Day, in album order. Each page carries the lyrics, the source quotes from the Nauvoo Expositor, a line-by-line lyric-to-source mapping, and producer notes.
Track 12 — The Inquisition
April 18th. A council called in secret. Tried, condemned, and cut off. They never knew until it was done. Our law condemns no man until he is heard.
Track 13 — Habeas Corpus
Fugitives fled to Nauvoo and found protection. The Mayor’s court overruled federal warrants. “A sink of refuge for every offender who can carry in spoils enough to buy protection.”
Track 14 — Citizens of Hancock County
Francis Higbee’s letter to his neighbors. Arise in the majesty of your strength. The August election approaches. This is the dreadful conflict.
Track 15 — The Burning
One hundred men. Scattered type. The flames consuming truth. Three days later, they printed their last word with fire. Seventeen days later, Carthage.
Track 16 — Sudden Day
They burned the press but not the truth. Lo, it is sudden day. The dark deeds of foul fiends shall be exposed from the house-tops. A departed spirit cries for vengeance.
1890
Epilogue / bonus track — a modern coda asking what hasn’t changed.