Red and white, blue suede shoes, I'm Uncle Sam, how do you do?
Gimme five, I'm still alive, ain't no luck, I learned to duck.
Check my pulse, it don't change. Stay seventy-two come shine or rain.
Wave the flag, pop the bag, rock the boat, skin the goat.
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high.

Summertime done, come and gone, my, oh, my.
I'm Uncle Sam, that's who I am; Been hidin' out in a rock and roll band.
Shake the hand that shook the hand of P.T. Barnum and Charlie Chan.
Shine your shoes, light your fuse. Can you use them ol' U.S. Blues?
I'll drink your health, share your wealth, run your life, steal your wife.
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high.

Summertime done, come and gone, my, oh, my.
Back to back chicken shack. Son of a gun, better change your act.
We're all confused, what's to lose?
You can call this all the United States Blues.
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high.
Summertime done, come and gone, my, oh, my.


Lyrics submitted by itsmyownmind

U.S. Blues Lyrics as written by Robert C. Hunter Jerome J. Garcia

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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U.S. Blues song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    "I'll drink your health, share your wealth, run your life, steal your wife."

    Much more true now than back in the 70s!!!

    Chi-Chiefon October 12, 2023   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ... 3 words: Damn the man.

    Ziggy8687on July 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's a great song. Clearly makes fun on nationalism in the US and the calling to the army.

    Tiger Kingon April 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's a great song. Clearly makes fun on nationalism in the US and the calling to the army.

    Tiger Kingon April 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    The key to understanding this song lies in the phrase “Skin the Goat”. Another way to ask a person to “Slap me 5” is to say “give me some skin”. Once you figure out who the “Goat” is the rest of the song will fall into place for you. Very clever Mr. Robert Hunter.

    bluesthinkeron February 06, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Undercutting those who’d have you believe that the United States of America is “the greatest country in the history of the world”, or that the US is a “shining city on a hill” and that we were “ordained by God” to be an example to the rest of the world. Although the USA has its good and bad points, and I like (do people really LOVE countries? IDK...) it, it never does any good to lie about beginnings. We swindled the Indians who’d deal with us, and murdered most of the rest(!).

    “Shake the band that shook the hand Of PT Barnum And Charlie Chan”.

    PT Barnum said “there’s a sucker born every

    force263on February 06, 2019   Link

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