Wave That Flag (Demo)

It's Jerry's birthday and in his honor I would like to play this song, Wave that flag. It debuted in 1973. I first saw the band play this in March of 1973 at the Philadelphia Spectrum and then later in the year at the Boston Music Hall in November/December.

The lyrics were ultimately modified (several times actually) and the title was changed to U.S. Blues. I kind of liked the earlier version better but what the heck, they never asked me.

Wave that flag, pop the bag, skin the goat, learn to cope

Bell the rat, trap the cat, ball the jack, chew the fat

Read the signs, connect the lines, pay your fines, save your dimes

Pick up time, light the fuse, making time, pass the juice

Eat at days, hide in caves, pull the tooth, stretch the truth

Feed the poor, starve the war, pick up chicks, catch the fix

Get your kicks, pick up sticks, trim your wick, take your pick

Try your tricks, impress the chicks

Wash the fence, dig the den, live the vain, die in shame

Catch the fool, burn the stew, shine your shoes, sing the blues

Wave the flag, pop the bag, bell the cat, trap the rat

Ball the jack, chew the fat, shoot the breeze, lose the keys

Read the signs, connect the lines, pay your fines, read the rhyme

Shot the breeze, lose your keys, don't be late, what I say

Stretch the truth, pull the tooth, feed the poor, starve the war

Cash the fix, get your kicks, trim your wick, take your pick

Try your tricks, impress the chicks

Wash the fence, dig the den, live the shame, die in vain

Catch the fool, burn the stew, shine your shoes, sing the blues

Here's the later version that stuck:

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.

I was listening to this the other day and thought of the line I'll drink your health and share your wealth and couldn't help but think of the Beatles' Taxman. I wonder if the dead were getting audited at that point?

Always love and miss you Jerry!