Fourth of July Lyrics

My birthday's on the Fourth of July

When I was younger I believed all the fireworks were for me

Watch the parade passin' by

I was so proud to share a birthday with the land of the free

Now it's more complicated

Feels weird to celebrate a place built upon so much hate

People try to say it's in the past

But the older I am, I know that

The Civil War, it never really ended

It just changed its name while we fanned the flame

And kids in school are pledging their allegiance

The bullets fly, we hear the battle cry

Is this what freedom is?

What kind of world is this?

I can't get his picture out of my head

Two years old, north of Chicago

Wondering where his mom and dad are

Bullets flew down from the rooftop

A celebration of a nation clinging to its guns in desperation

Every day we read it in the news

Americans are dying while the politicians fly above our heads

Offering thoughts and prayers, it's nothing new

And the older I am, I know that

The Civil War, it never really ended

It changed its name while we fanned the flame

And kids in school are pledging their allegiance

The bullets fly, we hear the battle cry

Is this what freedom is?

What kind of world is this?

If mental health's the problem I don't think more guns will solve 'em

God forbid a teenage boy should have a rifle as a toy

So you say that guns don't kill while you pass another bill

Paid off by the NRA

Pretend it's all in Jesus' name

How many people have to die before something's gonna change?

Another tragedy, on tragedy, on tragedy

The Civil War, it never really ended

It changed its name while we fanned the flame

And kids in school are pledging their allegiance

The bullets fly, we hear their battle cries

Is this what freedom is?

What kind of world is this?