I Didn’t Raise That Flag for You

[Verse 1] Daddy’s flag hangs by the shop door, Faded nearly pink and gray. I still pull it in at sundown, Like he taught me every day. The parts came in on Monday, New tariffs on the sheet. Washington called it winning; I cut Ray back half a week. He swept the floor in silence, Took his lunchbox off the shelf. Then the president on TV Started praising himself. [Chorus] I didn’t raise that flag for you, Or hang it up to hide the truth. It’s for the hands that built this place, Every color, every name. It doesn’t mean I’ll look away When you make good people pay. I still believe in red, white, and blue— But I didn’t raise that flag for you. [Verse 2] Ray’s boy called from the Gulf one night, Said, “Dad, I’m doing fine.” We heard a siren cut him off, Then static on the line. Ray held that phone against his ear Long after it went dead. The TV talked of victory— Nobody heard a word it said. They’ve got billions for this war; We’ve got jars beside the till. Somewhere there’s an Iranian dad At his window, waiting still. [Chorus] I didn’t raise that flag for you, Or hang it up to hide the truth. It’s for the hands that built this place, Every color, every name. It doesn’t mean I’ll look away When you make good people pay. I still believe in red, white, and blue— But I didn’t raise that flag for you. [Bridge] I put Ray back on full-time, Took the difference from my pay. We drove down to the town hall, Had a few things left to say. Ray leaned into the microphone: “We don’t need another show. If you’re speaking for this country, There are people you should know.” [Final Chorus] We didn’t raise that flag for you, Or hang it up to hide the truth. It’s for the hands that built this place, Every color, every name. It doesn’t mean we’ll look away When you make good people pay. We still believe in red, white, and blue— But we didn’t raise that flag for you. [Outro] Ray’s phone lit up at closing: “Still here, Dad. Love you.” I thought about that other father Hope his phone lights up, too.