I put an olive tree in the garden
cause it reminded me of Lebanon
I don't ever want to go back that it's where I'm from
I tell my children when they're listening
this is now your home
Learn the words to the national anthem sing along
La la la la la la
la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
I passed his room at midnight strip of light under the door
I always thought that he was studying
that's what those books were for
Any father of sons will tell you you can't watch them every hour
Have to let them become the person that they are
I can't keep track of everything he's reading
I can't keep track of what the priest is saying
I don't follow him on Fridays I don't ask him for what he's praying
Just take him down to the park on Sundays
I feel our connection so profoundly
When he kicks it long I feel it in my own body
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
He came home from school one afternoon
Speechless in his rage
Two boys had told him kiss the flag Held him down till he obeyed
And as his face pressed into the dirt All he could think was how
He always thought that it was his flag too It isn't now
Now one night I had been drinking And we had an argument
One or two words were spoken Then out the door he went
I said what's it got to do with us Hezbollah and Hamas?
It's not the devil versus Satan Who is fighting in Damascus
But that he got all high and mighty And he headed for the door
I said do you even know what they're fighting for?
La la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la La la la la la
La,
la,
la, la
A deathless afternoon
The grass clips to the edges
And the wheelie-bin's in line
Why would he wanna throw this all away?
Why would he leave this all behind?
And when they open up the paper
I'd see fundamentalism's face
I just see a child who had no choice to in the first place
And now the olive tree is thriving Like it's been here all along
Next to the
English rose That was here when we moved in