Sounds Like America To Me - Harry Chapin

Well I don’t know about inflation

Who makes what inflate

Each new taste sensation

I don’t know why it rates

And though in my imagination

I’m sure of how I feel

My present hesitation

Is I’m afraid it’s real

Some times these days it’s hard to choose

The one right road to go

But this then is all I’m sure I know

I know when a child is hurting

That the silence can be wrong

I know that when old folks are helpless

I can’t just pass along

And I know when someone’s hungry

I can’t just sing this song

And when I hear somebody crying

I can’t just wonder who that it could be

Well I hear somebody crying now

And it sure sounds like America to me

Insecurity can beat me darling

But sometimes that’s where I’m at

So I hope that you can keep me darling

So that at least I can count on that

You see some things stir me deeply

Though I try to hide from pain

But wide awake or sleeping

Some questions still remain

Sometimes these days it’s hard to choose

The one right road to go

But this then is all I’m sure I know

You see I know when a child is hurting

That silence can be wrong

And I know that when old folks are helpless

I can’t just pass along

And I know when someone’s hungry

I can’t just sing this song

And when I hear somebody crying

I can’t just wonder who that it could be

And I hear somebody crying now

And it sure sounds like America to me

Sometimes a simple question

Is much better than the truth

Sometimes we need our experience

Sometimes we need our youth

Sometimes the signs pouring out to us

That we have lost our way

Sometimes the times are times that look

An awful lot like today

Sometimes these days it’s hard to choose

The one right road to go

But this then is all I’m sure I know

I know when a child is hurting

That silence can be wrong

I know that when old folks are helpless

I can’t just pass along

And I know when someone’s hungry

I can’t just sing this song

And when I hear somebody crying

I can’t just wonder who that it could be

Well I hear somebody crying now

And it sure sounds like America to me