"Play It Again, Sam" is an Emily Saliers song, written during her
sophomore year at Tulane, when she was "really depressed." She says
that it's a hopeful song... It just takes until the last line for
the hopefulness to appear.

Play It Again, Sa
m.
Well, we read best selling novels so we can talk between the lines
And we often close our eyes just to hide the dollar signs
And we're suddenly pretentious, and conform right with the stream
We're born and bred believers in the American Dream.
And we drink our whiskey straight, though we do not like the taste
And we dress in obligations, with a top hat show of haste
And we hinder our reactions as we measure what we say
Until someone starts to cry and the faces turn away, again.
Play it again, Sam, take it slow and easy
Sing about the land of the brave and the home of the free
And there's a man who will tip you better than you've gotten yet
If you play us a happy song and help us forget
Play it again, Sam.
Well, we'll donate to our charities to deduct our future taxes
And we flock to bars for drinking, though one never quite relaxes
And we'll compromise our standards if it means we'll get attention
And the things we need the most to say are the things we never
mention.
Play it again, Sam, take it slow and easy
Sing about the land of the brave and the home of the free
And there's a man who will tip you better than you've gotten yet
If you play us a happy song and help us forget
Play it again, Sam.
Now I know God is in His Heaven, though it's hard to keep in mind
When you're searching for relief, and hell is all you find
And I know that I'm a romantic, and I must seem a fool to say
But I know I'm going to see a few hands joined before my dying day.
Play it again, Sam, take it slow and easy
Sing about the land of the brave and the home of the free
And there's a man who will tip you better than you've gotten yet
If you play us a happy song and help us all forget
Play it again, Sam...
Play it again, Sam...
Play it again, Sam.