A Visit With Uncle Sam

Just the other day I pondered our poor ol’ Uncle Sam,

I thought I’d like to chat him up and maybe share a dram,

And kindly inquire as to how he’s a makin’ out,

I’ve always known him to be hale and hearty, smart and strong and stout.

But kindly seems like here lately, he’s been punyin’ around,

And I wondered if maybe his kin folks might not be a gettin’ him down.

I thought I might like to visit, and to talk with him a spell,

Just to see how he’s a doin’ and to see what he might tell.

Well, he says, “It’s good to see you! Come on in and set a spell.

Sure, my Constitutions healthy, but I don’t rightly feel too well.

It’s my nieces and my nephews, why, you know just how they are,

There ain’t nothin’ ever suits ‘em but to argue round and spar.

They’ve worked up a rift between ‘em, and they’ve got it deep and wide,

I’d like to get ‘em back together, Lord knows how I’ve tried.

But the ones they’ve set to represent, are sure the dullest in the lot,

I can’t quite make it out why they thinks that’s the best they’ve got.

But you know, they believe it and they send them back again and again,

And wonder why nothin’ ever changes, with not one capable in ten.

Most are there to pad their pockets when they go to Washington to lurk,

And they’ll do and say damn near anything just so they don’t have to work.

They’ll keep that job ’til they’re plumb hide bound, and pite nigh out of touch,

And folks ‘ll say, “That’s how it’s always been.”and “It don’t matter much.” `

And folks ‘ll argue over minutiae and fuss and scratch and claw,

To make sure they get their share first, no matter there’s room for all. 

Why ever’ young ‘un in this country, knows how great this land could be,

If folks just remembered what it means to be free,

Freedom ain’t meant for some just to hoard and hide and keep,

It belongs to ever’ body, but of course, it don’t come cheap.

We all know the price, it’s paid in duty and in blood,

But it seems like here lately, that ain’t exactly understood,

There’s some that want’s t’ bully, and fight just ‘cause they can,

And tell ye it’s for freedom, but that ain’t exactly in their plan.

To them, “freedom” ’s just a catch phrase for stirrin’ up the crowd,

They wave the bloody shirt and they holler mighty loud.

But they won’t tell you nothin’ until you’re out there on the limb,

And you realize you don’t fight for you, you’re a fightin’ now for them.

Oh, sure, them and their buddies, who stand to gain from the scrap,

And they don’t care who it hurts or who falls into their trap,

‘Cause mostly the fall out, (if they have any luck),

Will land on the folks who clean up the mess; that’s how they pass the buck.

And now here I’m gettin’ riled, and my dander ’s getting up,

We all know this stuff has gone on since Ol’ Hec’ he was a pup,

‘Course that don’t make it right, nor justify it at all,

But a man what’s always lookin’ down ‘s most apt to trip and fall.

I’ve got faith in our people, they’re mostly good at heart,

And when it comes to pull the load, they’ll mostly do their part,

I know it always hurts to watch family fuss and fight,

But they’ll figure it out between themselves and finally make it right. 

So, I wish I had more answers but all I can say is wait and see,

And trust in a free people to all want to remain free.

They have to trust each other, and believe in all man kind,

And in the end, as they say, “sight will cure the blind.”