You lived a life of pride
You lived a life of pain
Trying to pray away stormy weather

Sweeping up the dust
Reaching out for yesterday
Yesterday is a blade, sharp as ever

The well that held those tears
Couldn't make it one more year
I guess there's a loser in every fight
Your favorite version of the past
You found in a photograph
American flags in black and white

I promised my belief
I promised lots of things
A promise never brought your kind of message

Because if it don't burn up
It'll blow away next spring
You won't be combing through the wreckage

And the things that made you feel so safe
Are only on a screen these days
And there's a loser in every fight
Your favorite version of the past
You found in a photograph
American flags in black and white

The well that held those tears
Couldn't make it one more year
I guess we're the losers in this fight
My favorite version of the past
Is you in a photograph
American flags in black and white
American flags in black and white