Playing Volleyball with Sheba’s Head
Playing Volleyball with Sheba’s Head
A siren soars in the mountain air,
Benjamin’s son utters his toxic prayer.
“Jesse’s seed has come to an end!”
Sheba’s will is stout, will not bend.
Slide the royal chess pieces away
Betrayal is set, the line ends today
Joab pursues like a linebacker on speed
Like an apex predator, Zeruiah’s seed
Holed up in a fortress of Abel’s making,
The spoils of war, this company is taking.
(Chorus)
Behold! We’ve come to do our bidding.
Of you on this earth we are ridding
This place you call home is condemned to the dead,
Unless we play volleyball with Sheba’s head!
The trenches are set surrounding the stronghold.
Its inhabitants only wishing to be bold.
Wisdom is found on the heads of silver/grey.
We’ll lay seige to you, for everyone must pay.
“Listen up, Joab! We’re innocent, pure.”
“Give up the traitor and your safety’s secure.”
The Wise Woman speaks:
“A man of Mount Ephraim has lifted his hand...
Sheba the rebel, he curses our land.
Deliver him up, and we shall vacate.”
Joab replies:
“Let us take him now, before it’s too late.”
The Wise Woman smiles:
“Behold, from the fortress, his crown will be shed...
Watch for the arc of his severed head.”
The blade falls! (CHUG)
Inside the walls! (CHUG)
The knife meets flesh as justice calls!
Served up high! (CHUG)
Shot to the sky! (CHUG)
A bloody ball begins to fly!
(Chorus)
Behold! We’ve come to do our bidding.
Of you on this earth we are ridding
This place you call home is condemned to the dead,
They finished the game...
By playing volleyball with Sheba’s head!
“Welcome back to the Abel Beth Maacah Invitational!
Joab’s men are waiting at the net.
The crowd is dead silent.
Here comes the serve...”
BUMP! We pass it to the elders!
SET! The wise woman positions the blade!
SPIKE! Over the parapet wall!
An illegal rotation of the cervical spine!
It clears the trench! It clears the line!
Joab makes a diving dig in the dirt!
He catches the skull, but his dignity’s hurt!
SERVE! SET! MATCH!
“Hey Joab! Out of bounds! Do we replay the point?!”
(2 Samuel 20)
Original Lyrics: Doug Van Pelt
Original Proof of Concept: Doug Van Pelt
Music: Doug Van Pelt / Lee Haley
Original Lead Vocal: Doug Van Pelt
Original Proof-of-Concept Guitar: Lee Haley
Musical Direction: Lee Haley
Production & Arrangement: Lee Haley
Audio Development & Editing: Lee Haley
Video Direction, Development & Editing: Lee Haley
Creation Date: June 25, 2026
Composition Ownership:
Doug Van Pelt — 50% — ASCAP
Lee Haley — 50% — BMI
Publishing: Captive Thought (ASCAP)
Publishing: Hey! Lee-Hey! Lee (BMI)
© 2026 Doug Van Pelt and Lee Haley. All Rights Reserved.
Master Recording Ownership:
Doug Van Pelt — 50%
Lee Haley — 50%
℗ 2026 Doug Van Pelt and Lee Haley
AI-Assisted Production:
Additional instrumentation and production elements were created using AI-assisted and generative production tools under human creative direction. Original lyrics, lead vocal, and overall proof of concept were provided by Doug Van Pelt. Original proof-of-concept guitar, musical direction, arrangement, production development, audio editing, and video direction/editing were provided by Lee Haley.
ALBUM-WIDE AUTHORSHIP & AI DISCLOSURE
Original lyrics written 100% by Doug Van Pelt* (except track one - “The Heads of Samaria”)
AI-assisted tools were also used for selected instrumentation and production under the human creative and musical direction of Lee Haley. Songwriting, performance, production, and ownership credits are listed separately.
