He came home in ‘45 with dust on his boots, A duffel of letters and no taste for salute. Mama hung the flag but cried at night, Said the war was won, but it still didn’t feel right. I watched him stare at crowds with wary eyes, Couldn’t stand the sound of victory cries. Now I see that look in the mirror each day— And I won’t let silence light the fascist way. My days are done but yours have just begun That's why I'm on the line holding my protest sign You don't deserve the dark days ahead So I raise my voice to let the word be said We used to be much better than this They locked the church doors the night we prayed, Still, we marched at dawn, unafraid. I wore my best coat to that courthouse stand, Trembling, but holding my father’s hand. We won some ground, and we built it slow, But hate has a way of finding new roads. So I’m back where I started, but not alone— Please join me in singing this protest song. My days are done but yours have just begun That's why I'm on the line holding my protest sign You don't deserve the dark days ahead So I raise my voice to let the word be said We used to be much better than this It was the night they stormed the Capitol steps, I sat in this chair, holding my breath. The flag I once folded was waved in disgrace, And I wept for the soul of this broken place. I’ve watched truth unravel, thread by thread, While good folks whisper what should be said. So I scrawled my sign and I’m coming along— Please join me in singing this protest song. The faces change, but the fear feels the same, Every fight comes with a different name. We lit the path with what we knew— Now all that's left is up to you. My days are done but yours have just begun That's why I'm on the line holding my protest sign You don't deserve the dark days ahead So I raise my voice to let the word be said We used to be much better than this We used to be much better than this
