Another National Anthem

I did it because it is wrong for one man to have so much service
When other men have none

I did it to bring down the government of Abraham Lincoln
And to avenge the ravaged South

I did it to prove to her my everlasting love

I did it to make them listen to Charlie

I did it 'cause my belly was on-a fire

I did it to preserve the Union and promote the sale of my book

I did it so my friends would know where I was coming from

Where's my prize?

I did it because no one cares about the poor man's pain

I did it so I'd know where I was coming from

I want my prize

I did it 'cause the bosses made my belly burn

I did it so she'd pay attention

So I'd have someplace to come from, and someplace to go

Don't I get a prize?

I did it 'cause they said I would be Ambassador to France

I did it so they'd suffer in the North
The way we'd suffered in the South

I deserve a fucking prize!

I did it so there'd be a trial, and Charlie would get to be a witness
And he'd be on TV
And he'd save the world!

Where's my prize?

I did it to make people listen

They promised me a prize

Because she wouldn't take my phone calls

What about my prize?

Because nothing stopped the fire!

I want my prize!

Nobody would listen!

It didn't mean a nickel
You just shed a little blood
And a lot of people shed a lot of tears
Yes, you made a little moment
And you stirred a little mud
But it didn't fix the stomach
And you've drunk your final Bud
And it didn't help the workers
And it didn't heal the country
And it didn't make them listen
And they never said, "We're sorry"

Yeah, it's never gonna happen
Is it?

No, sir

Never

No, we're never gonna get the prize

No one listens

Are we?

Never

No, it doesn't make a bit of difference
Does it?

Didn't
Ever

Fuck it!

Spread the word

Where's my prize?

I just heard
On the news
Where the mailman won the lottery
Goes to show
When you lose
What you do is try again
You can be
What you choose
From a mailman to a president
There are prizes all around you
If you're wise enough to see
The delivery boy's on Wall Street
And the the usherette's a rock star

Right, it's never gonna happen, is it?
Is it?

No, man!

No, we'll never see the day arrive

Spread the word
Will we?
Never!

No one's ever even gonna care if we're alive
Are they?
Never
Spread the word
We're alive
Someone's gonna listen!
Listen!

Listen
There's another national anthem playing
Not the one you cheer
At the ball park

Where's my prize?

It's the other national anthem, saying
If you want to hear
It says

"Bullshit!"

It says

"Never!"—

It says

"Sorry!"

Loud and clear

It says: Listen

To the tune that keeps sounding
In the distance, on the outside
Coming through the ground

To the hearts that go on pounding

To the sound
Getting louder every year
Listen to the sound

Take a look around

We're the other national anthem, folks
The ones that can't get in
To the ball park

Spread the word

There's another national anthem, folks
For those who never win

For the suckers!

For the pikers!

For the ones who might have been!

There are those who love regretting
There are those who like extremes
There are those who thrive on chaos and despair
There are those who keep forgetting
That the country's built on dreams

People listen

And the mailman won the lottery

They may not want to hear it
But they listen
Once they think it's gonna stop the game

And the usherette's a rock star

No, they may not understand
All the words
All the same
They hear the music

They hear the screams

I've got news

They hear the sobs
They hear the drums

Well, you forgot about the country

The muffled drums
The muffled dreams

So it's now forgotten you

And they rise

You know why I did it?
'Cause there isn't any Santa Claus!

Where's my prize?

And you forgot

What's my prize?

How quick it heals

Promises and lies

That it's a place
Where you can make the lies come true

Spread the word

If you try

Gotta spread the word

That's all you have to do

Right
All you have to do

Well, there's another national anthem
And I think it just began
In the ball park

Listen hard

Like the other national anthem
Says to each and every fan
If you can't do what you want to
Then you do the things you can
You've got to try again!

Like they say
You've go to keep on trying
Every day
Until you get a prize
Until you get a prize
Until you're heard

Musn't get discouraged
Spread the word
Mustn't give up hope
Up to you
Don't say
What you choose
It's never gonna happen
Spread the word

You can always get a prize

You can always get your dream

Sure, the mailman won the lottery



Credits
Writer(s): Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

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