Another National Anthem

I did it because it is wrong for one man to have so much service When other men have none I did it to bring down the government of Abraham Lincoln And to avenge the ravaged South I did it to prove to her my everlasting love I did it to make them listen to Charlie I did it 'cause my belly was on-a fire I did it to preserve the Union and promote the sale of my book I did it so my friends would know where I was coming from Where's my prize? I did it because no one cares about the poor man's pain I did it so I'd know where I was coming from I want my prize I did it 'cause the bosses made my belly burn I did it so she'd pay attention So I'd have someplace to come from, and someplace to go Don't I get a prize? I did it 'cause they said I would be Ambassador to France I did it so they'd suffer in the North The way we'd suffered in the South I deserve a fucking prize! I did it so there'd be a trial, and Charlie would get to be a witness And he'd be on TV And he'd save the world! Where's my prize? I did it to make people listen They promised me a prize Because she wouldn't take my phone calls What about my prize? Because nothing stopped the fire! I want my prize! Nobody would listen! It didn't mean a nickel You just shed a little blood And a lot of people shed a lot of tears Yes, you made a little moment And you stirred a little mud But it didn't fix the stomach And you've drunk your final Bud And it didn't help the workers And it didn't heal the country And it didn't make them listen And they never said, "We're sorry" Yeah, it's never gonna happen Is it? No, sir Never No, we're never gonna get the prize No one listens Are we? Never No, it doesn't make a bit of difference Does it? Didn't Ever Fuck it! Spread the word Where's my prize? I just heard On the news Where the mailman won the lottery Goes to show When you lose What you do is try again You can be What you choose From a mailman to a president There are prizes all around you If you're wise enough to see The delivery boy's on Wall Street And the the usherette's a rock star Right, it's never gonna happen, is it? Is it? No, man! No, we'll never see the day arrive Spread the word Will we? Never! No one's ever even gonna care if we're alive Are they? Never Spread the word We're alive Someone's gonna listen! Listen! Listen There's another national anthem playing Not the one you cheer At the ball park Where's my prize? It's the other national anthem, saying If you want to hear It says "Bullshit!" It says "Never!"— It says "Sorry!" Loud and clear It says: Listen To the tune that keeps sounding In the distance, on the outside Coming through the ground To the hearts that go on pounding To the sound Getting louder every year Listen to the sound Take a look around We're the other national anthem, folks The ones that can't get in To the ball park Spread the word There's another national anthem, folks For those who never win For the suckers! For the pikers! For the ones who might have been! There are those who love regretting There are those who like extremes There are those who thrive on chaos and despair There are those who keep forgetting That the country's built on dreams People listen And the mailman won the lottery They may not want to hear it But they listen Once they think it's gonna stop the game And the usherette's a rock star No, they may not understand All the words All the same They hear the music They hear the screams I've got news They hear the sobs They hear the drums Well, you forgot about the country The muffled drums The muffled dreams So it's now forgotten you And they rise You know why I did it? 'Cause there isn't any Santa Claus! Where's my prize? And you forgot What's my prize? How quick it heals Promises and lies That it's a place Where you can make the lies come true Spread the word If you try Gotta spread the word That's all you have to do Right All you have to do Well, there's another national anthem And I think it just began In the ball park Listen hard Like the other national anthem Says to each and every fan If you can't do what you want to Then you do the things you can You've got to try again! Like they say You've go to keep on trying Every day Until you get a prize Until you get a prize Until you're heard Musn't get discouraged Spread the word Mustn't give up hope Up to you Don't say What you choose It's never gonna happen Spread the word You can always get a prize You can always get your dream Sure, the mailman won the lottery