Once I stood by your long blonde hair
There was talking, people shopping, there were sounds everywhere
Once I gave all my change to the poor
Lived as mercy you can search me it is pain I abhor
Once I turned down a life of sin
Talked the talk, walked the walk in God trustin'
Once I stared down death in the face
Gave some mercy and I'm sure he didn't care anyway
Somehow people always sayin' that they love me
But when push comes to shove, they never seem to stay
Somehow I made it all through thick and thin
'Till Uncle Sam came and took it again
Once some crazies tried to blow us away
Buildings fryin', people dying, I will never 'get that day
So I thought I'd better go help fight a war
For the healing helped the killing, maybe just one more
Whole lot of them, I guess, had to die
Isn't easy, feelin' queasy on that eye for an eye
Seen swollen bodies and eyes without a light
People cryin', ladies lying, men who gave up the fight
For your freedom, I gave mine away
Now I wake up every night and I sweat through every day
Asked by a Birdie if I'd sacrifice all
Uncle Sam cut me down when I answered the call
Now every day, by the millions they say
Uncle Sam's just throwing them people away
Throwing young 'n old, throwing black and white
Just cut 'em down, if ya think they ain't right
'N these old school gems, like thick and thin
N' lovin' one another is all forgotten
And heaven forbid, you ever flip your lid
'Cuz when you're broken, all you sell for is the lowest bid
And if you ever do oh so well
He'll be glad to take your heaven in exchange for hell
And if you think that this song ain't right
You're gonna stand alone when Uncle Sam comes to fight
You're gonna stand alone when Uncle Sam comes to fight