lifeblood: songs: lyrics: play it again sam

well we read best selling novels
so we can talk between the lines
and we often close our eyes
just to hide the dollar signs
and we're suddenly pretentious
and conform with the stream
we're born and bred believers
in the american dream

and we drink our whiskey straight
though we do not like the taste
and we dress in obligations
with a top hat show of haste
and we hinder our reactions
as we measure what we say
until someone starts to cry
and the faces turn away again

play it again sam
take it slow and easy
sing about the land of the brave
and the home of the free
and there's a man who will tip you
better than you've gotten yet
if you play us a happy song
and help us forget
play it again sam

well we donate to our charities
to deduct our future taxes
and we flock to bars for drinking
though one never quite relaxes
and we compromise our standards
if it means we'll get attention
and the things we need the most to say
are the things we never mention

play it again sam
take it slow and easy
sing about the land of the brave
and the home of the free
and there's a man who will tip you
better than you've gotten yet
if you play us a happy song
and help us all forget
play it again sam

now i know god is up in heaven
it's hard to keep in mind
sometimes when you're searching for relief
and hell is all you find
and i know that i'm a romantic
i might seem a fool to say
i'm know i'm going to see a few hands joined
before my dying day

play it again sam
take it slow and easy
sing about the land of the brave
and the home of the free
and there's a man who will tip you
better than you've gotten yet
just play us a happy song
and help us all forget
play it again sam
play it again sam
play it again sam

words and music by emily saliers
as performed in orlando, florida, may 9, 1991