SMALL TOWNS HAVE ALL LOST THEIR FLAVOR
full court press from the big box chains
mom & pops can't enforce their own laws
or count on trickle down rain

your feet are sick of the treadmill
your body burns through the pills
your friends became invisible
you wonder when you will

whoa oh there used to be a beacon in the bay
a ray of hope for glory
or something else we used to claim
we sold ourselves the magic
woven in that fabric
waving while the private jets take flight
always flyin' at half-mast
cryin' it ain't right

WAKE UP MAN THIS AIN'T A DAYDREAM
sleepwalking in a school hallway
roll the dice get a job choose a vice
that's why you graduate, right?
RIGHT?

the cops and robbers colluded
stole the cookie jar and left no crumbs
running ads, wiping blame off their hands
beating those election day drums

whoa oh there used to be a beacon in the bay
a ray of hope for glory
or something else we used to claim
we sold ourselves the magic
woven in that fabric
but every oyster ain't got pearls inside
flag's always flyin' at half-mast
cryin' it ain't right
it ain't right

new born sarah jane
when she comes of age
will struggle to interpret
being free, being brave

call me an optimistic cynic
i wanna believe still i can't comprehend
are we building towards the future
or staring at the end?

whoa oh there used to be a beacon in the bay
a ray of hope for glory
or something else we used to claim
we sold ourselves the magic
woven in that fabric, oh
waving like a final kiss goodnight
always flyin' at half-mast
cryin' it ain't right
oh it ain't right
oh it ain't right"