Michelle Shocked - Ballad Of The Battle Of The Ballot & The Bullet, Pt. 1: Ugly Americans Lyrics

I can see it's gonna be a long night
I ain't gonna stop until I get it right
I don't want to sing no jeremiad
I'd really love to say things just ain't that bad

Oh, how we love our denial
A comfort to cover up the shame
But the truth is standing on trial
And I've got proof that we're all to blame

Oh, my fellow Americans
Are we reaping our harvest of greed?
Have we built our house on sinking sand?
Why are we being ugly Americans?
Uh, huh, huh, huh, uh, huh, huh, huh

Call it the ballad of the battle of the ballot and the bullet
With a bead on the barrel and a hair trigger, pull it
Shoot yourself in the foot when you shut down dissent
Shoot yourself in the head, vote for a war president

Oh, how we love our denial
A comfort to cover up the shame
But the truth is standing on trial
And I've got proof that we're all to blame

Oh, my fellow Americans
Are we reaping our harvest of greed?
Have we built our house on sinking sand?
What are we thinking?

So go on and hurl your hateful curses
Or worse, sit silent and condemn
Curl your lip, call me unpatriotic
I'm singing this because I can

I'm singing this because I am your ugly American
Uh, huh, huh, huh, your ugly American
Uh, huh, huh, huh, your ugly American
Uh, huh, huh, huh, your ugly American
Uh, huh, huh, huh

So go on and hurl your hateful curses
Or worse, sit silent and condemn
Curl your lip, call me a traitor
I'm singing this while I still can

I'm singing this because I am your ugly American
(Uh, huh, huh, huh)
Why are we still fighting?
(Uh, huh, huh, huh)

A war without end?
(Uh, huh, huh, huh)
We all agreed to shut up since when?
(Uh, huh, huh, huh)
Heaven help this land