Family Tree

at 43 my mom had her degree
she worked weekends and nights under hospital lights
raised three kids to be creative thinkers
my open mind can't see why
she stayed home on election day
not like a vote matters anyway
a country divided by the undecided
in the tiny hands of a big business man

the family tree is losing leaves
it's losing me, I cannot relate

got a ride from my dad last friday
felt like a teen in his SUV
got to talking about the people walking
the streets with signs that say "change the times"
he don't think that things are that serious
said I'm swayed by the liberal media
how can the guy who showed me public radio
be fine with a fraud in the white house

the family tree is losing leaves
it's losing me, I cannot relate

I sleep in the shade of a flag in flames
practice playing for pocket change
flip a coin between hope and fear everyday

Nonna came with a soldier's name
she had set her sights on the stars and stripes
she's still living in old New England
it's cold at night and dark by five
when I call her she's on that tip
about how the country's in satan's grip
how can an immigrant let her president
put foreign children in cages

the family tree is losing leaves
it's losing three black sheep
the family tree is losing leaves
it's losing me, I just can't relate