State of the Union

State of the Union
by Tom Flannery copyright 2008

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Daddy's got 2 jobs
and Mom picked up one more
not much of a mess this year
on our Christmas floor
my little brother got sick
but we all stayed home instead
took turns standing watch
and putting cold cloths on his head
if the state of the union is strong
tell me what are we doing wrong?

Some mornings I go to school hungry
some nights I go to bed late
waiting for Mom and Dad
to come home in a state
of uptight exhaustion
fear and bloodshot eyes
to scour the latest want-ads
for an unexpected prize
if the state of the union is strong
tell me what are we doing wrong?

If I could address the nation
and lay it on the line
I'd paint a different picture
than what was sketched out this time
when I look out my window
I see graffiti and decay
and I know that war still rages
'cause I don't look the other way

Some nights my Dad gets angry
takes it out on me
but at least when these things happen
he leaves my mother be
Some nights I hear him crying
my mom gets in his ear
saying it's gonna be ok
we're gonna make it here
if the state of the union is strong
tell me what are we doing wrong?

If I could address the nation
and could say what's on my mind
I'd open up the curtain
and take you all behind
underneath the covers
to the dark end of the street
where all you money men
never have to meet

I'm older but no wiser
to why the world spins this way
tilted on it's axis
with nothing much to say
a man needs a family
a family needs a man
to watch each other's backs
when rich men have a plan
if the state of the union is strong
tell me what are we doing wrong?