They tied that yellow ribbon 'round the oak tree And they've worn out all the prayer in their hearts All along thought they were rooting for the home team As they're sent into the game and torn apart We twist this tourniquet upon the pipeline Who carries all the pain in the world As we blindly clap and cheer from the sidelines, it's clear On a losing streak from the very start And that's where they found me In the cemetery A smoking gun in my hand, now I'm damned for the land of the free Sing with me, the American scream They took that faded ribbon off the old tree And they've worn out all the hope in their hearts All along thought I was doing the right thing Now I'm lying in a pool of my blood And that's where they found me In the cemetery A smoking gun in my hand, now I'm damned for the land of the free Sing with me And that's where they found me In the cemetery A smoking gun in my hand, now I'm damned for the land of the free Sing with me, the American scream The American scream And that's where they found me In the cemetery A smoking gun in my hand, now I'm damned for the land of the free Sing with me, the American scream