I heard you sing a rebel song
sung it loud and all alone
we can't afford the things you say
we can't afford the warranty

well i see you walking in the glare
down the county road we share
our southern blood my heresy
damn that old confederacy

it took a
long time to
become the thing
i am to you
and you won't
tear it apart
without a fight
without a heart

i'm sorry for what you've learned
(learned)
when you feel the tables turned
to run so hard in your race
(race)
now you found who set the pace

the landed aristocracy
exploiting all your enmity
all your daddy's fought in vain
leave you with the mark of cain

it took a
long time to
become the thing
i am to you
and you won't
tear it apart
without a fight
without a heart

it took a
long time to
become you
become you

the center holds so they say
(it never held too well for me)
it never held too well for me
(the center holds so they say)
i won't stop short of common ground
(that vilifies the trodden down)
that vilifies the trodden down
(i won't stop)

the center held the bonded slave
for the sake of industry
(ah)
the center held the bloody hand
of the execution man
(ah)

it took a
long time to
become the thing
i am to you
and you won't
tear it apart
without a fight
without a heart

it took a
long time to
become you
become you

it took a
long time to
become you
become you