MONSTER 
(Lyrics : John Kay / Jerry Edmonton)
Steppenwolf


Once the religious, the hunted and weary 
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope 
Came to this country to build a new vision 
Far from the reaches of Kingdom and pope 

Like good Christians some would burn the witches 
Later some got slaves to gather riches 

But still from near and far to seek America 
They came by thousands, to court the wild 
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child 
To be their spirit and guiding light 

And once the ties with the crown had been broken 
Westward in saddle and wagon it went 
And till the railroad linked ocean to ocean 
Many the lives which had come to an end 

While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland 
We began the slaughter of the red man 

But still from near and far to seek America 
They came by thousands to court the wild 
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child 
To be their spirit and guiding light 

The Blue and Grey they stomped it 
They kicked it just like a dog 
And when the war was over 
They stuffed it just like a hog 

And though the past has its share of injustice 
Kind was the spirit in many a way 
But its protectors and friends have been sleeping 
Now it's a monster and will not obey 

The spirit was freedom and justice 
And its keepers seemed generous and kind 
Its leaders were supposed to serve the country 
But now they won't pay it no mind 
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy 
Now their vote is a meaningless joke 
They babble about law and order 
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told 

Yeah, there's a monster on the loose 
It's got our heads into the noose 
And it just sits there watching 

The cities have turned into jungles 
And corruption is strangling the land 
The police force is watching the people 
And the people just can't understand 
We don't know how to mind our own business 
'Cause the whole world's got to be just like us 
Now we are fighting a war over there 
No matter who's the winner we can't pay the cost 

'Cause there's a monster on the loose 
It's got our heads into the noose 
And it just sits there watching 

America, where are you now 
Don't you care about your sons and daughters 
Don't you know we need you now 
We can't fight alone against the monster 

America, where are you now 
Don't you care about your sons and daughters 
Don't you know we need you now 
We can't fight alone against the monster 

----- instrumental break ----- 

America... (Three more times, then fade)