Words, Words, Words (or: Lies My Leaders Told Me)

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Sam Steffen

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In 1492 Chris Columbus and his crew
Discovered folks a living in some islands to the west
He promised to be kind, but he went and changed his mind
Made most of them his slaves and put the rest of em to death
If I didn't know any better I'd suppose
Perhaps the terms of his agreement wasn't heard, heard, heard
But it's a getting late-how long you wanna wait
For you admit that the promise was just words, words, words?

In 1838 Andrew Jackson did create
A paper sayin that the natives would receive their promised land
Made a reservation zone, drove em into Oklahome
Leaving Cherokee and chocktaw blood in the Mississippi sand
If I didn't know any better I'd suppose
That the lyin simply couldn't have endured, -dured, -dured
But it's a getting late-how long you wanna wait
For you admit that the promise was just words, words, words?

In 1864-trine to end the civil war
Mr. Lincoln signed a paper sayin all slaves would be free
Soon as he let em go-in came the Old Jim Crow
And the rest, I'm sure you know, is US history
If I didn't know any better, I'd suppose
That the promise has only been deferred -ferred -ferred
But it's a getting late-how long you wanna wait
Fore you admit that a promise is just words, words, words

In August '45-trine to keep his own alive
Harry Truman told the Japanese, "this fighting's gotta stop,"
Any more lives bein spent, he said he would try to prevent-
Then he loaded up his atom bombs, said "Fellas, let em drop-"
If I didn't know-any better I'd suppose
That the promise was always bein urged, urged, urged
But it's a getting late, how long you wanna wait
Fore you admit that the promise was just words, words, words?

In 1954, in a case called Brown v. Board
The Supreme Court said that public schools must integrate their kids
They took their time, of course, with getting it enforced
And fore anything could happen, it was like nothing ever did
If I didn't know any better I'd suppose
That the ruling sounded too good to've occurred, -curred, -curred
But it's getting late, how long you gonna wait
For you admit that the promise was just words, words, words?

In 1964, hungry for another war,
Lyndon Johnson said a US ship had been hit by Viet Cong
And though it was a lie, he still sent troops to die
In the name of keeping communism out of Vietnam
If I didn't know any better I'd suppose
That what ain't democratic ain't preferred, -ferred, -ferred
But it's a getting late, how long you wanna wait
For you admit that democracy's a word, word, word

In 1982 Ronald Regan, tride and true,
Said he'd increased public safety and on crime he waged a war
For him, tho, being safe-had to do with class and race-
Most of the folks he rounded up were young and black and poor
If I didn't know any better I'd suppose
That the promise aimed to keep us all secured, -cured, -cured
But it's a getting late, how long you gonna wait
For you admit that the promise was just words, words, words?

In 1992 the war on crime and drugs just grew
Mr. Clinton said he had a plan and it would be unfurled
He built prisons left and right, filled em practically overnight
Now the US has more prisoners than any nation in the world
If I didn't know-any better I'd suppose
That the lockdown was a bad dream that emerged, merged, merged
But it's a getting late, how long you wanna wait
For you admit that the promise was just words, words, words?

In 2001, weapons of mass destruction
Was the reason Mr. Bush supplied to re-invade Iraq
The nukes were never found, but the country was torn down
and US oil prices were a little lower after that
If I didn't know any better I'd suppose
That the promise didn't sound quite so absurd, -surd, -surd
But it's a getting late, how long you wanna wait
For you admit that the promise was just words, words, words?

Now this song could go on, and on and on and on
The lies my leaders told me are too numerous to name
But I'm a getting tired, my patience is expired
As we move into the future, the song will be the same
If I didn't know any better I'd suppose
That a government, in all things, should be just, just, just
But it's a getting late, how long you wanna wait
Fore you admit if it'll be just it'll have to be up to us?

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