1969

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of Kingdom and pope

Like good Christians,
some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves
to gather riches

But still from near and far
to seek America
They came by thousands,
to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled
and bore a child
To be their spirit
and guiding light

And once the ties
with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle
and wagon it went
And till the railroad
linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives
which had come to an end

While we bullied, stole
and bought a homeland
We began the slaughter
of the red man

But still from near and far
to seek America
They came by thousands,
to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled
and bore a child
To be their spirit
and guiding light

The Blue and Grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war was over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past
has its share of injustice
Kind was the spirit
in many a way
But its protectors and friends
have been sleeping
Now it’s a monster
and will not obey

The spirit was freedom and justice
And its keepers seemed generous and kind
Its leaders were supposed
to serve the country
But now they won’t pay it no mind
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
Now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it’s all just an echo
of what they’ve been told

Yeah, there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’

The cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin’ the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can’t understand
We don’t know
how to mind our own business
‘Cause the whole world’s
got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who’s the winner
we can’t pay the cost

‘Cause there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’

America, where are you now
Don’t you care about
your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster

America, where are you now
Don’t you care about
your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster

America… America… America… America…

– Steppenwolf