I Was A Pre-Teen McCarthyist - Propagandhi

At Harold Edward’s Elementary

You pay respect to our God, our flag, our military

In grade 3 I had a written composition

About the global threat of communism

And I was the luckiest eight-year-old McCarthyist of 1979

I spent spring break on the flight line

Of a base in the Carolinas

The U.S. version of my dad had signed us

Signed us in, signed us in

And twelve years later, the Gatling I’d touched

Was strapped to the nose of a U.S. A-10

Separated flesh from bone

And honed its skills on lesser humans

And thus confirmed the suspicions earned

In the 7 years preceding

About the lies I was told and, truth be known

I’m probably better off believing

They said I’m better off believing

Somehow better off believing

But how could they do this to me?

Born head first and brought up ankle deep

And maybe you’re a lot like me

Identified for fourteen years without a choice

Terrified the morning you woke up and realized

That if and when you jump ship

You either swim for shore or drown

Don’t let the fuckers drag you down