VERSE
Ashes Of American Flags
Wilco
The cash machine is blue and green
For a bundle of twenties and a small service fee
I could spend three dollars and sixty-three cents
On Diet Coca-Cola and unlit cigarettes
I wonder why we listen to poets when nobody gives a fuck
How hot and sorrowful, the machine begs for luck
All my lies are always wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new
We want a good life with a nose for things
the fresh wind and bright sky to endure my suffering
I'm a hole without a key if I break my tongue
Oh, speaking of tomorrow, how will it ever come?
All my lies are always wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new
I'm down on my hands and knees
every time I hear a doorbell ring
I shake like a toothache
every time I hear myself sing
All my lies are only wishes
I know I would die if I could come back new
I would like to salute
the ashes of American flags
And all the fallen leaves
filling up shopping bags
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LanguageEnglish
Translated byAllen Morningstar
About this Song
Ashes Of American Flags by Wilco is a poignant reflection on disillusionment, societal disconnect, and the decline of American ideals. The song addresses themes of loss, longing, and the search for meaning in a confusing world. Key moments include the imagery of the 'ashes of American flags' which symbolizes the erosion of the nation's former glory and the line 'I would like to salute the ashes of American flags' which underscores the sense of respect amidst heartbreak.
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