swimming pools full of gold-fish
scar the backyards from the summer chair-lift
piano's full of weed on the council streets
a replica of somewhere I used to want to be
want to be

you'd think the colonel misses his son
but he's only got use for the one
that climbs up and over his land
a little ritual for the man who's motto
is that there wasn't any other way
other way
not today

I've kept the flag since I found out
it meant more than me
I need your face to remind me
that I'm complete
and being a patriot doesn't mean a thing
wrapped in cotton and string
I'll have you know I wasn't always like this
always like

have you ever examined the date on a coin
well that's the concentration span we inflicted
into our boy
said we'd take the days as they come
but the colonel would prefer to salute
than touch the skin of his son
our infected fun
what's going on
what's come undone

I've kept the flag since I found out
it meant more than me
I need your face to remind me
that I'm complete
and being a patriot doesn't mean a thing
wrapped in cotton and string
I'll have you know I wasn't always like this
always like

I guess a man takes it hard
when all the strength in his head
has fallen to his arms
I miss you so much
but when you're around I tend to bruise
so it's unfortunate for me and my son
that I've invested all of my armour in you

and when he dies he's wants his heart
shielded by fifty cotton stars
shiny eyes and paparazzi
in fifty shiny cars
enough confetti to wash away
this whole damn town
but I'll make sure he only gets his stupid flag
when they put him in the ground

I'll have you know I wasn't always like this