What's that rotten smell?nThe stench of morning headlinesnSomeone's trying to sell a war of ignorancenWith newspapers passed out in our schoolsnAnd every morning children recite an oath to foolsnnOh no, those are words my lips won't makenI couldn't fake blind allegiancenTo a dead ideal while kids follow what I saynI should have hit the lights and said STOP!nKids you're writing your own pledges nownAnd if you need ideas I'll tell you when I was your age...nnYes you could see me, dancing in the streetsnIn front of soldiers, in battle armor, called the state policenI saw my parents standing next to menAnd I thought 'This is what it's like to bring your kids up right'nAnd I looked up and smilednnThinking people can't be mind controllednHistory knows thisnSo we'll teach our children to be skeptical of the governmentnThey'll question all the lies they're ever toldnThey'll be fearless when they stop worshiping the flagpolenAnd reject what they've been soldnnThen you will hear them, dancing in the streetsnA sea of children singing so loud the sound is deafeningnThis war machine will collapse in disbeliefnAnd the hawks will lose their wings and crynFor forgiveness for their crimesnAnd the kids will nod and smile