America, America

I walked all the trails that I could find
and I rode all the rails to the end of the line
I called to the brakeman 'take me to the heartland,
I'm looking for my country', but he did not understand

America, America, I'm looking for you urgently
America, America, ole glory won't you hear my plea?

wagons roll on into the dust
wheels get buried in centuries of rust
can you build a country on the backs of slaves?
can you grow a nation on a sacred native grave?

in the drift of the ages, in the rifts of time
the jewels of our wisdom were sold for a crime
now riverboats run down waters they can't cross
searching for something that the gamblers lost

America, America

up on the coast where the warships dock
by pounding waters by black diamond rocks
I sang of billy yank to the men that have failed
with a tombstone prayer for this ship of fools that sails

in the corridors of power, in the hallways of might
men of the hour believe their might makes right
but I'll never die drowning in my grief
we have the strength to struggle
in this I still believe

America, America, the world is calling urgently
America, America, ole glory won't you hear my plea

I left my guns in the desert terrain
and I threw my bullets into the pouring rain
at the edge of the plains, let the horses run free
and I went looking for liberty...

America
America
America...