American Lie

(In the style of “American Pie”- Don McLean ©1971)

[Intro:]
A long, long time from now
History will remember how we treat our fellow man
And right now we’ve got the chance
To put an end to this wicked dance
And maybe turn things back around again

But yesterday made me shiver
With all the hatred being delivered
Bad news in my newsfeed
I sit and watch the world bleed

It doesn’t matter if we tried
To stem the flow of this racist tide
Hatred welled from deep inside
The day George Floyd died

[Chorus:]
Oh my, my, this American lie
Many generations old but it can’t be denied
And them good ole boys whistling dixie all night
Singin’ I hide my hate with southern pride
I hide my hate with southern pride

[Verse 1]
Did you read the book of god
And spoil the child without sparing the rod
Cause the Grand Wizard told you so?
Now do you believe in equality?
Can you be saved from hypocrisy?
And can you turn the hate down real low?

Well I know your faith is paper thin
A wooden idol wrapped in tin
We’ve got so much to lose
But still it’s hate you choose

I’m just an old white dude awash in luck
A trouble making former punk
But I’m not some racist fuck
The day George Floyd died

[Chorus:]
I started singing my, my, this American Lie
Many generations old but it can’t be denied
And them good ole boys whistling dixie all night
Singin’ I hide my hate with southern pride
I hide my hate with southern pride

[Verse 2]
Now a weeks gone by since since this story’s blown
And words and rocks have been hastily thrown
But that’s not how it has to be
When the great man spoke about his sacred dream
An idea of love not too extreme
He was talking to both you and me

Oh but when the King was gaining ground
Some coward struck his message down
A memory forever burned
But no lesson had been learned

And when Lennon sang of imagining
The poor folks kept on suffering
And we upheld the buffering
The day George Floyd died

[Chorus:]
We were singing my, my, this American Lie
Many generations old but it can’t be denied
And them good ole boys whistling dixie all night
Singin’ I hide my hate with southern pride
I hide my hate with southern pride

[Verse 3]
Global pandemic before the summer swelter
Time to prepare the hurricane shelter
It’s 85 and climbing fast…
We ran afoul in the past
The protestors were being gassed
While the jester in the White House sits aghast

Any lockdown unity was all consumed
While marshal law ever loomed
Some tried to take a stance
Oh, but they never got the chance

‘Cause the riot cops barreled onto the field
The protestors refused to yield
The hypocrisy has been revealed
The day George Floyd died

[Chorus:]
We started singing my, my, this American Lie
Many generations old but it can’t be denied
And them good ole boys whistling dixie all night
Singin’ I hide my hate with southern pride
I hide my hate with southern pride

[Verse 4]
Oh but for a moment we were back in one place
A generation with eyes towards space
Ready to shoot for the moon again
So come on fearless leaders awash in greed
Put down the tweets and start to lead
‘Cause unity aint just a means to an end

Oh, and as I watched them on the screen
I’m reminded of that sacred dream
No racists from the hill
Can break our collective will

And as the flames climbed high into the night
To signal the start of the latest fight
I saw haters laughing with delight
The day George Floyd died

[Chorus:]
They were singing my, my, this American Lie
Many generations old but it can’t be denied
And them good ole boys whistling dixie all night
Singin’ I hide my hate with southern pride
I hide my hate with southern pride

[Outro]
I’ve had enough of these petty fools
Judging others with inferior tools
It’s time we take their power away
Let’s dare to dream that dream once more
Before this becomes an unwinnable war
Just listen to what the victims have to say

And in the streets the people screamed
While politicians primped and preened
No kind words were spoken
Only fires built for stoking

And the things that we now need the most
Compassion and love in equal dose
Can take root where unity grows
The day George Floyd died

[Chorus:]
And we all are singing my, my, this American Lie
Many generations old but it can’t be denied
And them good ole boys whistling dixie all night
Singin’ I hide my hate with southern pride
I hide my hate with southern pride

(Parody lyrics inspired by “American Pie,” written by Don McLean. ©1971 United Artists Music Co., Inc. All rights reserved. No affiliation or endorsement implied.)