Well, they pulled in just behind the bridge
He lays her down, she frowns
"Gee, my life's a funny thing, am I still too young?"
He kissed her then and there, she took his ring
And took his babies, it took him minutes
It took him nowhere, Heaven knows, she'd've taken anything, but

(All night) She was the young American
(Young American, young American, she was the young American)
(All night) She was the young American

Scanning life through the picture window, she finds the slinky vagabond
He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang
But, Heaven forbid, she'll take anything

But the freak and the type of a nothing
He misses a step and cuts his hand, but
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song, she cries
"Where has all Papa's heroes gone?"

(All night) She was the young American
(Young American, young American, she was the young American)
(All night) She was the young American

All the way from Washington, breadwinner begs off the bathroom floor
We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for fifty more?

(All night) He was the young American
(Young American, young American, he was the young American) Oh
(All night) He was the young American

Do you remember your president Nixon?
Do you remember the bills you have to pay?
Or even yesterday?

Have you been un-American, just you and your idol sing falsetto
Leather, leather everywhere, and not a myth left from the ghetto
Oh, would you carry a razor in case, just in case of depression?
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
Blushin' at all the Afro-sheeners

Now, ain't that close to love?
Well, now, ain't that poster love, now, baby?
Well, it ain't that Barbie doll
Her heart's been broken just like you and

(All night) He was the young American
(Young American, young American, he was the young American)
(All night) He was the young American

You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler
(Young American, young American, he was a young American)
The pimps got a Cadi and a lady's got a Chrysler
(All night) Black's got respect and white's got his soul train
Mama's got cramps and look at your hands ache, yeah

(I heard the news today, oh boy)
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain't they're a man who can say no more? And
(All right)
Ain't there a woman I can sock on the jaw? And
Ain't there a child I can hold without judging?
(Young American, young American, he was a young American)
Ain't there a pen that will right before they die?
(All right)
Ain't you proud that you've still got faces?

Ain't they're one damn song that can make me break down and cry?

(All night) I was the young American
(Young American, young American, he was a young American)
Yes, I do
(All night) He was the young American
(Young American, young American, he was the young American)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
(All right) I was the young American
(Young American, young American, he was a young American)
(All night) I was the young American
(Young American, young American, he was the young American)
(All right)
(Young American, young American)