Lyrics A Good Old Fashioned Town - Paul Heaton

A Good Old Fashioned Town

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