A Good Old Fashioned Town - Paul Heaton

The nearer the border

The higher they hoist the flag

Like the father of the house wants the world to know

The race he’d like his daughters to shag

And the louder they sing their anthem

The more likely their history graced

With that badge kissing, fanfare blowing

Idiot painted face

Everyone stands up

When they hear those trumpets sound

Everyone, stand up

In a good old-fashioned town

If you can’t tell what they’re singing

It’s usually who they’d like to drown

In a flag-waving, chest-beating

Good old-fashioned town

When someone starts a sentence

With «I'm not racist, but--»

You know that the sentence is bound to end

With where they think they should be put

So next time you hear them singing

Of a land so free and brave

You know the place they hang their flag

Is where they hung their slave

Everyone stands up

When they hear those trumpets sound

Everyone, stand up

In a good old-fashioned town

If you can’t tell what they’re singing

It’s usually who they’d like to drown

In a flag-waving, chest-beating

Good old-fashioned town

Flying flag is just another way

The insecure announce they’re here to stay

So if you love your country and love your fellow man

Display, please, as quietly as you can

Everyone stands up

When they hear those trumpets sound

Everyone, stand up

In a good old-fashioned town

If you can’t tell what they’re singing

It’s usually who they’d like to drown

In a flag-waving, chest-beating

Good old-fashioned town