The Last Great American, New Last Verse (9/15/2001)

This is an incredibly powerful song for me. So simple, a narrative of a funeral, yet the lyrics draw you right in.

I have no clue who this man is, but after hearing this song I aspire to be like him.

I'm still young so i've been to few funnerals. one for my grandpop when i was little and one last year for something who changed my life. And these words are just like what was said at his. Not in this version but in the other one they say "and the children gave their blessing, though the service weren't half done, each of them sued the other one, for the last great american." At the funneral there were lots of kids because he was a young teacher who was very loved and none of us could keep from crying and hugging each other. I love the line. "Here lies our Merry the man with the heart so spent That in this day and age is sick of living" its just such a good line

The new last verse was in response to 9/11 Originally the song was a social comment on the demise of the idea of America, of it's good old values and liberty, kind of a 'I can't believe it has come to this', hence:

"and the children gave the blessing, though the service weren't half done, each of them sued the other one, for the last great american"

The last great American was the last remnant of this idea, and here he is buried.

However, with 9/11, the American spirit was reborn, as everyone stood together and instead of blaming each other looked after their neighbour instead. Thus, the character of the Last Great American was reborn, through the smoke and morning sun. A new chapter in life had begun.

I love this song but i dont get the impression that the reborn American spirit lasted for very long after 9/11 - the American government have just spent about 5 years blaming the entire middle eastern world only to become really half arsed about what they have taken as their job to 'sort out'. The full lyrics are:

Mr. Merry cries in his coffin for days he says he can remember home And through the town the pallbearers sing old songs Of a beautiful and purple mountain From every walk of life we've come to see the Last Great American So may I now present you the speaker Friends he was a man of men, a man of gold He had a how do you say ethical like sense That's when the President started to giggle Then the children gave the blessing Though the service weren't half done Each of them sued the other one For the last great American

Wait, wait it's time, time for my coffin Wait, It's time for my prayer Wait, It's time, time for my coffin

Merry reaches up and we bow our heads pulls the lid on down and his stone is read here lies merry, the man with the heart so spent that in this day and age was sick of living

.....

etc

haha that sounded pretty angry but it wasn't meant to be. I like america

kisses, Godzuki

i can´t find the new version anywhere, does anyone have a link where i could listen to it??