doing time in america

[firsty]

i’m facing charges
doing time in america
paid at the end
of a long fucking day
we still have time to cause a
just solution
instead of a chaotic spray
at the end of a long long day

if i go to jail in this america
i promise i will never leave again
if i go to jail in this america
i wont break down
if i go to jail in this america
i’ll write a lot of books
if i go to jail in this america
it’s all just doing time

spending nights in jail in america
screwing whores in america
smoking pot in america
slapping wives in america
philosopher poets in america
opportunists in america
gamblers in america
we’re all just doing time
in a country without a president
we dont have a president, we have a CEO
slaves to CEO bush and the united oil emirates of america
doing time

we’re running from the phantom wolves in america
gladiolas, shrubs and bees
doing time in america
train and bikes and racing stripes
moving down the same direction
ashes and ashes, sky and breeze
flowers hiding in the ashes
doing time in america

millions of normal people are fucked in the ass every day
how bad could it be?
if i go to jail in this america
it’s not going to be just overnight anymore
whats a year
in the frame of this life
i cant even see the whole thing
as far as i look
as far as i see

i have stories to tell
there are things i’ve seen
months i’ve dreamed
something’s spinning
is something i’ve seen
someone’s telling stories
behind the countertops sticky with soda pop
i heard a lie today
i heard it twice
a bench is covered in newspaper only for an instant

i planted a seed on sunday
my son had found it in the wind
it grew into a maple tree and taught my boy compassion
i planted a seed on wednesday
and it grew into a weed, tall, breezy, fair
i smoked it, smiled, and got tossed in jail
and slept

if i go to jail in this america
i promise i will never leave again
if i go to jail in this america
i wont break down
if i go to jail in this america
i’d write a few more books
in jail in america

i valued money twenty years ago
now i value hope
in our america