Face the flag, son! Read what's written there
The history, the progress and the heritage we share
Our flag reflects the past, son, but stands for so much more
And in this Age of Aquarius, it still flies in the fore

It leads the forward movement shared by all mankind
To learn...to love...to live with peace of mind
To learn the mysteries of space, as well as those of earth
To love each man for what he is, regardless of his birth
To live without the fear of reprisal for belief
To ease the tensions of a world that cries out for relief

Face the Flag of stars and bars
Of red and white and blue
A flag that guarantees the rights
For men like me and you

Face the flag, son! Take a good long look
What you're seeing now can't be found in a history book
It's the present and the future, son. It's being written now
And you're the one to write it, but the flag can show you how

Do you know what it stands for? What its makers meant?
To think...to speak...the privilege of dissent
To think our leaders might be wrong...to stand and tell them so
These are the things that other men under other flags will never know
But responsibility...that's the cross that free men must bear
And if you don't accept that, the freedom isn't there

Face the flag of stars and bars
Of red and white and blue
A flag that guarantees the rights
For men like me and you

Face the flag, son, and face reality
Our strengths and our freedoms are based in unity
The flag is but a symbol, son, of the world's greatest nation
And as long as it keeps flying, there's cause for celebration

So do what you've got to do, but always keep in mind
A lot of people believe in peace...but there are the other kind
If we want to keep these freedoms, we may have to fight again
God forbid, but if we do, let's always fight to win
For the fate of a loser is futile and it's bare
No love, no peace...just misery and despair

Face the flag, son...and thank God it's still there!

Narration by
 John Wayne

© Denim & Lace 2007