AMERICA
(from the album "This Machine: The Best of Roy Zimmerman")
AMERICA
(from the album "This Machine: The Best of Roy Zimmerman")
words and music
copyright © 2005 by
Roy Zimmerman
copyright © 2005 by
Roy Zimmerman
America
Is a ‘57 Chevy
That veers to the left
And lurches to the right
America
Is a pawn shop window
With decals of Old Glory
Made by children in China
America
Is a dog playing poker
Saying, “War is a last resort”
And wagging his tail
America
Is a Compassionate Conservative
And a gay Republican
And vegetarian vampire
America
Is that Norman Rockwell
Of the family on Thanksgiving
Hung on the wall of an Indian casino
America
Is a big group therapy session
With one guy in the corner
Who will not shut up
God bless the superhero
And God bless the no-account jerk
And God bless America
It just might work
It just might work
What if a guy came up to you and said, “I’m going to bring forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal”? You’d probably say, “Right on. Good luck with that.” And what if he said, “I’m going to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” You’d probably say, “Wow, knock yourself out!” And what if he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country”? You’d probably say, “I’ve got a meeting...”
America
Is a conspiracy of genius
In sweat-stained waistcoats
And powdered wigs
America
Is a homeless Jesus
Being held at gunpoint
By King James
America
Is an apple pie
With a few bad apples
Right toward the top
America
Is a dream of freedom
Dreamed by everyone
All over the world
God bless the normal people
And the ones with every known quirk
And God bless America…
It just might work
America
It just might work
Keep working
And it just might work
Is a ‘57 Chevy
That veers to the left
And lurches to the right
America
Is a pawn shop window
With decals of Old Glory
Made by children in China
America
Is a dog playing poker
Saying, “War is a last resort”
And wagging his tail
America
Is a Compassionate Conservative
And a gay Republican
And vegetarian vampire
America
Is that Norman Rockwell
Of the family on Thanksgiving
Hung on the wall of an Indian casino
America
Is a big group therapy session
With one guy in the corner
Who will not shut up
God bless the superhero
And God bless the no-account jerk
And God bless America
It just might work
It just might work
What if a guy came up to you and said, “I’m going to bring forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal”? You’d probably say, “Right on. Good luck with that.” And what if he said, “I’m going to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” You’d probably say, “Wow, knock yourself out!” And what if he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country”? You’d probably say, “I’ve got a meeting...”
America
Is a conspiracy of genius
In sweat-stained waistcoats
And powdered wigs
America
Is a homeless Jesus
Being held at gunpoint
By King James
America
Is an apple pie
With a few bad apples
Right toward the top
America
Is a dream of freedom
Dreamed by everyone
All over the world
God bless the normal people
And the ones with every known quirk
And God bless America…
It just might work
America
It just might work
Keep working
And it just might work
