So the Prophets Say................ ........The Centurys - Lebanon PA 1965-67

One of central PA's bands made it into the canon of 60s punk classics with their regional hit Hard Times, but the Centurys were truly unusual at the time for their pro-war stance.

So the Prophets Say
(Billy Beard)

I bet they'll tell you that they're wise

And that they'll analyze

Your situation

They can tell you what's gonna come

And how certain things will be done

They're your

Salvation

Will the world end today

Like it did yesterday

Or will we have to wait

Till tomorrow

I will tell you when it comes

You will hear those (?) drums (?)

(?)

(?) your sorrow

These (?)

These prophets of peace 

And prophets of war

(?)

They may tell you to make a big sound

About gettin out of Viet Nam

You know you gotta right

To your convictions

But will they warn you of a coming day

When your placards might be thrown away

And they'll say

Now you've got a few

Restrictions

You may not like it if they hand you a gun

Before you turn twenty-one

And say

Now you've got to 

Be a man

But your freedoms bells stop ringing (?)

And red state song your singing

I bet you wish 

You had a gun 

In your hand

These men so good

And men so bad

These prophets so sane

And prophets so mad

(?)

Why don't you let it be known

You got a mind of your own

And you can tell right from wrong

From day to day

(?)

Cause they know you care

And so you beware

Of what the prophets say

(harmonica)

Billy Beard had been enlisted in the Navy since 1960 and other band members got draft notices in 1967.

.....

Renco 115 – 83 / So the Prophets Say
Renco 116 – Don’t Bother / Together To Stay
Swan 4265 – Hard Times / Endless Search
BB 4002 – And I Cried / Catch Me Fast



The Centurys on Garage Hangover
The Centurys on Bona Fide Records' Return of the Young Pennsylvanians
The Centurys on Nuclear Platters 
Obituary for William Beard