Lyrics

American Man
Words and Music by George Bancroft

Verse 1:
Phone call in the middle of the night
To childhood friend of mine
Routine conversation to see if
he and the new wife were doin' fine

And I said "Hey, friend, what's goin' on today?"
He said "I'm headed for Californ-I-A
Reserves got called up and I'm Middle East bound
Glad you called, goddam I'm feeling down"

Chorus:
American man, go do what you can
But I can't say I understand

Verse 2:
I grabbed my coat and I jumped in my car
then I drove down to a local bar
where I saw a writer sing his new protest song
and I clapped my hand and I cheered him on

Then a man to left who I can't say I know
He asked me point blank if I would go
And my reply stuck in my mouth
I said I don't know, I ain't quite worked it out

Chorus:
American man, go do what you can
But I can't say I understand

Verse 3:
25 years I've not missed a meal
and I speak my mind whenever I feel
I slander my country if I want to
and from time to time that's just what I do

But I got to thinking deep in the night
of the men who had died to give me that right
I won't spit on the graves of the men who have died
and I won't turn my back on the mothers who have cried

I know I'd have wished that it was not so
I can't believe that we've got to go
I've been watchin' the news and it hittin' close to home
and I'm glad we ain't in all alone

Chorus:
I'm an American Man, I will do what I can
But I can't say I understand