swimming pools full of gold-fish   scar the backyards from the summer chair-lift   piano's full of weed on the council streets   a replica of somewhere I used to want to be   want to be      you'd think the colonel misses his son   but he's only got use for the one   that climbs up and over his land   a little ritual for the man who's motto   is that there wasn't any other way   other way   not today      I've kept the flag since I found out   it meant more than me   I need your face to remind me   that I'm complete   and being a patriot doesn't mean a thing   wrapped in cotton and string   I'll have you know I wasn't always like this   always like      have you ever examined the date on a coin   well that's the concentration span we inflicted   into our boy   said we'd take the days as they come   but the colonel would prefer to salute   than touch the skin of his son   our infected fun   what's going on   what's come undone      I've kept the flag since I found out   it meant more than me   I need your face to remind me   that I'm complete   and being a patriot doesn't mean a thing   wrapped in cotton and string   I'll have you know I wasn't always like this   always like      I guess a man takes it hard   when all the strength in his head   has fallen to his arms   I miss you so much   but when you're around I tend to bruise   so it's unfortunate for me and my son   that I've invested all of my armour in you      and when he dies he's wants his heart   shielded by fifty cotton stars   shiny eyes and paparazzi   in fifty shiny cars   enough confetti to wash away   this whole damn town   but I'll make sure he only gets his stupid flag   when they put him in the ground      I'll have you know I wasn't always like this