Harry Chapin - I Miss America lyrics

By the time I was thirteen I started taking shape. At eighteen I was so beautiful That the strangers started to gape. They said "Enter the ultimate contest If you're as gorgeous as you seem." They said "Please, please, please Be our American dream." But late that night beneath the grieving moon There's a dazzling sight in my motel room For a grunting judge with his bulging eyes I give my all for his cherished prize. Oh why, oh why? I'm Miss America Crying on TV Silver clad in satin rags, But everything's where it should be Oh say can you see, ah say can you see. After they showed me the game ball They told me put on weight. They told me I'd be powerful They told me I'd be great. And my Uncle Sam he would coach me His helmet on my head And they said "Please, please please, please Please win and beat the spread." But the new game plan that the owners had made Meant that win or lose there would be a trade. For the team's become a real gold mine And the kid's sold off for the bottom line. Oh why, oh why? Mr. America Sweating on TV The winner's joy from the battered boy For everything's where it should be Oh say can you see, ah say can you see. At last we've come together Call it marriage or civil war. If it brings us to battle, babe It must be worth our fighting for. Though today came up cloudy There will be other days. "Ah, please, please, please, please What else is there to say?" But in plywood spread By a plastic stream And in separate beds with a borrowed dream And with questions wide and the silence deep We take two pills so at last we'll sleep. Oh why, oh why? Mr. and Mrs. America Our story's on TV Can you hear canned laughter For everything's where it should be Oh say can you see, ah say can you see. Well, my little boy he told me something Just the other night. He whispered it as I kissed him Before I turned out the light. And of course he said it simple As only children can He said "Daddy, daddy, daddy, please I'm ready to dream again."