The Decemberists - 16 Military Wives lyrics

Sixteen military wives Thirty-two softly focused, brightly colored eyes Staring at the natural tan Of thirty-two gently clenching wrinkled little hands Seventeen company men Out of which only twelve will make it back again Sergeant sends a letter to five Military wives whose tears drip down from ten little eyes Cheer them on to their rivals 'Cause America can, and America can't say no And America does, if America says it's so, it's so And the anchor person on TV Goes La de da de da Fifteen celebrity minds Leading their Fifteen sordid, wretched, checkered lives Will they find the solution in time Using their Fifteen pristine, moderate, liberal minds Eighteen academy chairs Out of which only seven really even care Doling out the garland to five Celebrity minds, they're humbly taken by surprise Cheer them on to their rivals 'Cause America can, and America can't say no And America does, if America says it's so, it's so And the anchor person on TV Goes la de da de da, de di de da de da La de da de da, de di de da de da Fourteen cannibal kings Wondering blithely what the dinner bell will bring Fifteen celebrity minds Served on a leafy bed of sixteen military wives Cheer them on to their rivals Cause America can, and America can't say no And America does, if America says it's so, it's so And the anchor person on TV Goes la de da de da, de di de da de da La de da de da, de di de da de da La de da de da, de di de da de da La de da de da, de di de da de da La de da de da, de di de da de da