Uncle Theology.
Uncle Theology · Psalms of Ascent · Track 3

The Khakis Ride At Dawn

Psalms of AscentTrack 3 of 15
The Khakis Ride At Dawn — song artwork, Psalms of Ascent by Uncle Theology
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About this songA sulky, Mountain-Dew-fueled kid gets dragged to church in clip-on tie and khakis — and looking back, realizes he was glad all along. Psalm 122, pop-punk style, with donuts.
Big idea“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD” — sometimes gladness in worship is something you only recognize in the rearview mirror.
Doctrine
The Lord’s Day · The church as God’s house
Anchor text
Psalm 122:1, 6–9
Form
Fast pop-punk with gang chants
Voices
—
Intro

The khakis ride at dawn, my son, the khakis ride at dawn So get your khakis on! The khakis ride at dawn, my son, the Lord's Day's come along So get your khakis on!

Verse 1

Nearly slept like death and it's on my breath, but it's Sunday morn and folks are tight
So no matter how much wrestling I watched last night, I gotta get up and face the Lord's Day light
Body slams in my head and I'm dead in bed with a Nintendo thumb need a Mountain Dew hum
Mom's rappin' on the door like a Bible drum, "Get your khakis on, son, 'cause the Lord's Day's come"
Clip-on crooked, got a cowlick that won't quit, Sunday school worksheet and I never finished it
Dad's out honkin' in the paneled wagon, man, I'm 'bout to throw a fit

Pre-Chorus

I don't wanna (HEY!)
I don't wanna go (HEY!)
Sit up straight and sing it slow (HEY!)
But Mom's hollerin' up the stairs, and whoa

Chorus

Man, I was a sulky, whiny, angsty little punk
A chubby lil brat like my name was chunk
Rollin' my eyes all the way to the pew
But lookin' back now, I know it's true
I was glad when Mom said unto me
"Let us go into the house of the LORD"
Yeah, I was glad, I just didn't know it
Too cool to show it, but I was glad for sure

Post-Chorus

The khakis ride at dawn!
(The khakis ride at dawn!)
Saddle up the wagon, boys
The khakis ride at dawn!

Verse 2

Wagons in the parking lot, all the tribes are goin' up, every family on the block with a Styrofoam cup
There's Jimmy by the doors with his hair slick parted, half a tub of Dep before the day got started
He saved me a seat and a bulletin, and he drew an X-wing on the back again

Pre-Chorus

I don't wanna (HEY!)
I don't wanna go (HEY!)
But Jimmy's wavin' from the second row (HEY!)
Well, maybe I'll stay, I don't know

Chorus

Man, I was a sulky, whiny, angsty little punk
A chubby lil brat like my name was chunk
Rollin' my eyes all the way to the pew
But lookin' back now, I know it's true
I was glad when Mom said unto me
"Let us go into the house of the LORD"
Yeah, I was glad, I just didn't know it
Too cool to show it, but I was glad for sure

Breakdown

Everybody packed in tight, compact together
Squeaky pews and hymnal books and old folks in their sweaters
Out there, they're all for war
But there's peace within these walls
For Jimmy's sake, and all my brothers
I'll say, "Peace be with you all"

Build

Pray for the peace (pray for the peace)
Pray for the peace (pray for the peace)
Because of the house of the LORD
I will seek your good!

Final Chorus

Man, I was a sulky, whiny, angsty little punk
A chubby lil brat like my name was chunk
Rollin' my eyes all the way to the pew
But lookin' back now, I know it's true
I was glad when Mom said unto me
"Let us go into the house of the LORD"
Yeah, I was glad, I just didn't know it
Too cool to show it, but I WAS GLAD!
(I was glad!) I was glad for sure

Outro

The khakis ride at dawn, my son, the khakis ride at dawn
So get your khakis on!
"Hey Mom... can we stay for donuts?"

Scripture References

  1. Psalm 122
  2. Hebrews 10:24-25
  3. Psalm 120:7
  4. Exodus 20:8

Study this song

Teaching aids drawn from the song — for personal study or group discussion.

How the song moves

1
Get your khakis on
Body slams in his head, a cowlick, an unfinished Sunday-school sheet, and Dad honking in the wood-paneled wagon.
2
I was glad (I just didn’t know it)
The chorus reframes the whole memory: Mom’s call to church was a gift (Psalm 122:1).
3
All the tribes are goin’ up
Every family on the block heads to worship like the tribes going up to Jerusalem — and Jimmy saved you a seat (Psalm 122:3–4; Hebrews 10:24–25).
4
Peace within these walls
Out there they’re for war (Psalm 120); in God’s house, “for my brothers’ sake I will say, Peace be within you” (Psalm 122:6–9).

Key terms & allusions

  • Lord’s Day — Sunday, the day Christ rose — Christians gather to worship as Israel gathered for the feasts.
  • “Jerusalem, built as a city compact together” — Psalm 122:3: tightly joined — like a packed sanctuary of squeaky pews and old folks in sweaters.
  • Pray for the peace of Jerusalem — Shalom means wholeness and flourishing; seeking the good of God’s house means loving his people (Psalm 122:9).

Discussion questions

  1. What parts of Sunday morning do you (honestly) not like? What parts are you secretly glad for?
  2. Why do you think the psalmist says he seeks good “because of the house of the LORD”?
  3. Who is your “Jimmy” — someone whose presence makes church feel like home?

For contemplation

  1. Recall a Sunday you didn’t want to go — and something good God did anyway.
  2. Pray for the peace of your local church by name this week.
  3. Next Lord’s Day, look for someone you can save a seat for.