Prompt:

[Verse 1] I got a red clay stain On my work boots Lunchbox dented in By the drive-through heat Flag on the fence Bent from the wind Same bad news On the TV screen [Pre-Chorus] Mama says, boy You still got time But the house keeps quiet When the phone don’t ring I keep my hands busy Keep my head down Try to outrun What it means [Chorus] Sad American Sad American I sing it low So you understand Sad American Sad American Same old hurt In a borrowed van [Verse 2] Gas tank near empty Hood full of dust Payday’s a rumor In a paper cup My neighbor waves From his busted porch Says, hang in there I say, yeah, sure [Pre-Chorus] Got a dog on the chain And a crack in the screen A stack of bills And a half-baked dream I keep on smiling For the picture frame But the grin looks tired On me [Chorus] Sad American Sad American I sing it low So you understand Sad American Sad American Same old hurt In a borrowed van [Bridge] Oh, if hope comes slow It still comes home Through a screen door slam And a field of stone I’m not done yet I’m just worn thin Still standing here With my heart half-in [Final Chorus] Sad American Sad American I sing it loud So you understand Sad American Sad American Still chasing dawn With these open hands