It's c oming through a h ole in the a ir
from those n ights in T iananmen S quare.
It's com ing from the feel
that this a in't exactly r eal
or it's re al but it a in't exactly t here.
From the wa rs against disorder
from the si rens night and day
from the fi res of the homeless
from the as hes of the gay:
Democ racy is coming to the U.S.A .
It's com ing through a crack in the w all;
on a v isionary f lood of a lcohol;
from the s taggering account
of the S ermon on the M ount
which I do n't pretend to u nderstand at a ll.
It's co ming from the silence
on the dock of the bay
from the b rave the bold the battered
heart of Chevrolet:
Democ racy is coming to the U.S.A .
It's com ing from the s orrow in the st reet
the ho ly places w here the races m eet;
from the h omicidal bitchin'
that goes d own in every k itchen
to dete rmine who will s erve and who will e at.
From the we lls of disappointment
where the w omen kneel to pray
for the g race of God in the desert here
and the d esert far away:
Democ racy is coming to the U.S.A .
Sail o n sail o n
O m ighty Ship of State!
To the S hores of Need
Past the R eefs of Greed
Through the S qualls of Hate
Sail o n sail o n sail o n sail o n.
It's com ing to Amer ica f irst
the cra dle of the b est and of the w orst.
It's he re they got the range
and the machin ery for c hange
and it's he re they got the s piritual t hirst.
It's he re the family's broken
and it's h ere the lonely say
that the h eart has got to open
in a f undamental way:
Democ racy is coming to the U.S.A .
It's com ing from the w omen and the m en.
O ba by we'll be m aking love a gain.
We'll be g oing down so deep
the r iver's going to w eep
and the m ountain's going to s hout "A men!"
It's c oming like the tidal flood
ben eath the lunar sway
imp erial mysterious
in a morous array:
Democ racy is coming to the U.S.A .
Sail o n sail o n
O m ighty Ship of State!
To the S hores of Need
Past the R eefs of Greed
Through the S qualls of Hate
Sail o n sail o n sail o n sail o n.
I'm senti mental if you k now what I m ean
I love the coun try but I c an't stand the scen e.
And I'm n either left or right
I'm just s taying home t onight
getting lo st in that h opeless little s creen.
But I'm s tubborn as those garbage bags
that ti me cannot decay
I'm ju nk but I'm still holding up
this l ittle wild bouquet:
Democ racy is coming to the U.S. A.
