I Miss America [Live] Harry Chapin

By the time I was thirteen
I started takin' shape
At eighteen I was so beautiful
That the strangers started to gape
They told me, "Enter the ultimate contest
If you're as gorgeous as you seem"
They said "Please, 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?
They showed me the game ball
They told me, put on weight
They told me, I'd be powerful
Then they told me, I would be great
They told me, "Uncle Sam he would coach you"
His helmet on your 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 fightin' 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
With the 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?
My little boy he told me somethin'
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
For he said "Daddy, daddy, daddy, please
I'm ready to dream again"