Back of the napkin scratch out
The words that I've learned
But they don't come, just cracks and hums
Like nothing I've ever heard
No place to stay, no fire or rain
No number or ratio
No gauge to give a warning sign
I guess we all should have known
What the downside might be
As we swore and prayed and stood and gazed
At some beast we never did see
Coming winter's chill in Charlottesville
With no leg to stand on
That's about where I draw the line
Scrape off the time elapse
Push myself right up to the collapse
Will you know me when I'm down on wounded knee?
Well the blood ran down and covered up
Everyone I've ever known
Mangled hands and best laid plans
My my haven't we grown
Back to the mirrors where we can't hear
The screams and shouts below
I tell you boys it's about time
There are high towers and deep wells
There are strokes and heart attacks and spells
Will you know me when I'm down on wounded knee?