The Great Divide

I hope you're only joking
I can't believe it's true
Can't take away my freedom
I know it's nothing new
It doesn't touch your conscience
To jumble up my mind
A two-way stretch, it's not perfect
No matter what you find

The feeling is relentless
There's nothing you can prove
I'm meeting with the roughnecks
Forget about the smooth
When everything's permitted
Authority to kill
A sudden way to cultivate
Destruction over will

Could've been a contender
Though the chances were slender
You gave me the gun
The man has no time
When sweet things go sour
Keep your colonels in power
Now that's what I call the great divide!

I'm looking for a reason
I'll help you let me go
Don't bite the hand that feeds them
If you've nothing more to show
With every step that's taken
You're nearer to the end
A void that's smart and full of heart
A nation to defend

It seems to get me going
But maybe I'm a fool
I've hurt you without knowing
Stop it's showing as a rule
Accept your points are valid
Run away from one to ten
Ignore it or try not to force
Step forward once again

Could've been a contender
Though the chances were slender
You gave me the gun
The man has no time
When sweet things go sour
Keep your colonels in power
Now that's what I call the great divide!

I hope you're only joking
I can't believe it's true
Can't take away my freedom
I know it's nothing new
It doesn't touch your conscience
To jumble up my mind
A two-way stretch, it's not perfect
No matter what you find

The feeling is relentless
There's nothing you can prove
I'm meeting with the roughnecks
Forget about the smooth
When everything's permitted
Authority to kill
A sudden way to cultivate
Destruction over will

Could've been a contender
Though the chances were slender
You gave me the gun
The man has no time
When sweet things go sour
Keep your colonels in power
Now that's what I call the great divide!