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 sent 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 anchorperson on TV goes
La de da de da

Fifteen celebrity minds
Living 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 a 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 anchorperson on TV goes
La de da de da de dadedade da
La de da de da de dadedade 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 anchorperson on TV goes
La de da de da de dadedade da
La de da de da de dadedade da