Lyric discussion by fearpanic4 

Cover art for Veteran's Day Poppy lyrics by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

"High" is a metaphor. Beefheart is saying that he can't get any enjoyment out of the poppy-wearing rememberence details, and he is crying because it is glorifying war.

@fearpanic4 OK, but Beefheart's not the one crying. The song is in the third person, and the words are those of a dead soldier's mother. "Screamin', empty, she cries". Simple and straightforward lyric, for Beefheart.