The Day the Music Died

A long, long time ago...
The King could torture and dismember
If he decided you had done something unworthwhile.
But our Founding Fathers took a chance
Hoping they would not have to dance
At the end of a Royal Wire.

At Lexington Washington’s troops did shiver
For Independence to deliver.
Redcoats on the doorstep;
But they could not take one more step.
I will remember that I cried
When I read about the tortured and vilified
But something touched me deep inside
The day the Constitution died.

So bye-bye, to our fundamental right
To be free of detention
Just because someone has spite
Those good old days are gone with the light
This is the day Democracy died.
But I refuse to run off and hide.

Did you write your Congressmen?
And can you finally find your tongue?
Maybe now it’s time you do.
Do you believe the people rule?
Or is that notion just for fools?
And can you teach me how to die real slow?

Well, I know that you’re as pissed as me
`Cause we all were raised with Liberty
We stood up and pledged as kids
Now Democracy is dying from SIDS
I was a lonely voice or so I thought
Until the internet-it hooked us up
But I knew I was out of luck
The day Democracy died.

I started screaming
“Bye-bye, to our fundamental right
To be free of detention
Just because someone has spite
Those good old days are gone with the light
This is the day Democracy died.
But I refuse to run off and hide.”

Now for six years the press left them alone
No criticizism could be heard at home
But that’s not how it used to be.
Today all the jesters sing for the king,
With a backdrop of his snickering
Ignoring all the voices that come from you and me,

Oh, and while the king was looking down,
The Justice Department whipped out the thorny crowns.
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict will be returned.
And while Bush was read a book by Camus
The CIA practiced in the dark
And we sang dirges in the park
The day Democracy died.

We were singing,
“Bye-bye, to our fundamental right
To be free of detention
Just because someone has spite
Those good old days are gone with the light
This is the day Democracy died.
But I refuse to run off and hide.”

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
While Dick went to live in a fallout shelter,
The criminals were scheming fast.
They sold the masses “Peace through War”
There was no principal they would not whore
With the jesters not on the sidelines but in the cast.

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune.
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance!
`cause when the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the Constitution died?


With appologies to Don Mclean