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I saw Willie Mays |
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At a Scottsdale Home Depot |
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Looking at Garage Door Springs |
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At the far end of the 14th row |
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His wife stood there beside him |
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She was quiet and they both were proud |
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I gave them room but was close enough |
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That I heard him when he said out loud |
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This was my country |
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This was my song |
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Somewhere in the middle there |
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Though it started badly and it's ending wrong |
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This was my country |
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This frightful and this angry land |
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But it's my right if the worst of it might still |
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Somehow make me a better man |
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The sun is unforgiving and |
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There's nobody would choose this town |
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But we've squandered so much of our good will |
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That there's nowhere else will have us now |
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We push in line at the picture show |
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For cool air and a chance to see |
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A vision of ourselves portrayed as |
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Younger and braver and humble and free. |
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This was our country |
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This was our song |
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Somewhere in the middle there |
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Though it started badly and it's ending wrong |
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This was our country |
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This frightful and this angry land |
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But it's my right if the worst of it might still |
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Somehow make me a better man |
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I've started something I can't finish |
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And I barely leave the house it's true |
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I keep a wrap on my sores and joints |
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But I've guess I've had my blessings too |
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I've got my mother's pretty feet |
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And a factory keeps my house in shade |
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My children they've both been paroled |
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And we get by on the peace we've made |
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I feel safe so far from heaven |
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From towers and their ocean views |
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From here I see the future coming across |
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What soon will be beaches too |
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But that was him |
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I'm almost sure |
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The greatest centerfielder of all time |
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Stooped by the burden of endless dreams |
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His and yours and mine |
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He hooked each spring beneath his feet |
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He leaned over then he stood upright |
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Testing each against his weight |
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For one that had some play and some fight |
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He's just like us I want to tell him |
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And our needs are small enough |
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Something to slow a heavy door |
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Something to help us raise one up |
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This was my country |
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This was my song |
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Somewhere in the middle there |
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Though it started badly and it's ending wrong |
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This was God's country |
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This frightful and this angry land |
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But if it's his will |
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The worst of it might still |
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Somehow make me a better man |
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If it's his will |
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The worst of it might still |
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Somehow make me a better man |