I adore a confrontation, and I should be ashamed    a carnival of complication, everyone's to blame    we can see the rocket's red glare    pipe bomb bursting in the air    as we proudly hail our taxis out of the fight       singing born of this nation of white bread foundation    we're taping a king, beaten of his crown    my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony    spoonful of sugar to wash it down       i have seen the hungry faces, and i have been removed    evidence in welfare cases, never being proved    we've written books on education    summoned federal regulation    skeleton hid deeply 'til its bones turn to dust       i know an old lady who swallowed a fly    i don't know why exactly, i guess she'll die    my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony    spoonful of sugar to wash it down       and god save the queen, oh, and pardon the king    and our ballots we'll stuff, then drink 'till we drown    my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony    spoonful of sugar to wash it down