I wander what it's like for you
Growing in the times you do
With a world more than a thousand
Shades of black and white and grey
The program's set so you can't win
But I can still remember when
Life was such a simple thing
And tommorrow was our day.
And America meant Disneyland
Baseball bats and hotdog stands
Hollywood and movie stars
And Mickey Mouse cartoons
Innocence was our best friend
Heroes won out in the end
And t he world just needed more John Waynes
And Elvis Presley tunes.
I played on chess and softball teams
You play your gmes on TV screens
Annihilating monsters and practising your aim
At least y our trigger's all in fun
Lights flash on the battle's won
But ask your dad about the guns
Ask him what he became
When America meant Vietnma
LBJ and Uncle Sam
Freedom rides and protest songs
Marching in the streets
The Pentagons was in the news
And people felt they had to choose
And there was such a lot to lose
In victory and defeat
The television set is on
World Cup games and marathons
Compete with starving children
To be worthy of your news
You do your homewaork on the floor
Waitinf for the latest score
Whilr refugees and East Timor
Are being interviewed
And America meant CNN corpses scandals
Bush's men
Disneyland in Tokoyo and satelittes in space
The world's policeman's on the move
Kkand those of us who disapprove
Are drowned out by the drums tattoo
And I cannot turn my face
We're drowned out by the drums tattoo
And can you turn your face?