A Few Words in Defense of Our Country (Live)

Lyrics

[Intro] When I came to Europe last was a few years ago And I recognized fairly soon that People here didn't like us very much I'm speaking as a country, as I, as I often do And, uh, I understood it But I wanted to do something, uh, to try and explain it So I wrote this song [Chorus] I'd like to say a few words In defense of our country Whose people aren't bad Nor are they mean Now the leaders we have While they're the worst that we've had Are hardly the worst This poor world has seen Let's turn history's pages, shall we? [Verse 1] Take the Caesars for example Why, within the first few of them They were sleeping with their sisters Stashing little boys in swimming pools And burning down the city And one of 'em One of 'em appointed his own horse to be Consul of the Empire That's like vice president or something Wait a minute, that's not a very good example, is it? But here's one: The Spanish Inquisition That's a good one Put people in a terrible position I don't even like to think about it Well, sometimes I like to think about it [Chorus] Just a few words In defense of our country Whose time at the top Could be coming to an end Now we don't want your love Respect at this point is pretty much out of the question But times like these, uh We sure could use a friend [Verse 2] Hitler Stalin Men who need no introduction King Leopold of Belgium, that's right Everyone thinks he's so great Well, he owned the Congo, he tore it up too Took the diamonds, he took the silver, he took the gold Know what he left 'em with? Malaria [Bridge] A president once said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" Now, we're supposed to be afraid It's patriotic, in fact, and color-coded What are we supposed to be afraid of? Why, of being afraid That's what terror means, doesn't it? That's what it used to mean [Verse 3] You know it pisses me off a little this Supreme Court is going to outlive me Couple young Italian fellows and a brother on the Court now, too But I defy you to find me anywhere in the world Two Italians as tight-assed as the two Italians we got And as for the brother, well Pluto's not a planet anymore either [Outro] The end of an empire is messy at best This empire is ending like all the rest Like the Spanish Armada adrift on the sea We're adrift in the land of the brave and the home of the free Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye Thank you very much, thank you Thank you very much You've been, you've been very kind It's always an honor I'm always cognizant of the honor it is to play with an orchestra That I'm, I know I'm working with people Who've spent twelve, fourteen years alone in a room Getting good at what they do, much like snipers But, but, uh, that's the truth It's the only true thing I'll say tonight Is that I'm honored to be working with this orchestra, and thank you