american faces

Lyrics

met a black man down in memphis with lines on his face that looked like the mississippi, he was the son of a slave, the father of a phd, he'd squint his eyes at the new day sun, spit tobacco from a toothless gum, and say "boys, it's a good day to be free", american faces i have seen, american voices i have listened to, they're a lot like me and you, they're all red, white or blue, american faces i have seen, saw a veteran in a halfway house, a monkey on his back and the whole world on his shoulder, on his dresser was a medal and a picture of a long lost friend, he'd won a purple heart when he lost his mind but he's kept his dreams since 69, that one day he'll be coming home again, american faces i have seen, american voices i have listened to, they're a lot like me and you, they're all red, white or blue, american faces i have seen, i knew a waitress on the night shift where eggs and coffee were a part of the uniform, waiting tables all night, taking less than minimum wage, she'd wipe her brow with the back of her hands, speak of three good kids and a hard luck man, but she swore they were bound for better days, american faces i have seen, american voices i have listened to, they're a lot like me and you, they're all red, white or blue, american faces i have seen, yeah, they're a lot like me and you, and we're all red, white or blue, american faces i have seen