"The So-Called Free" lyrics - JOHN (COUGAR) MELLENCAMP

I went to Long Island
To look at a diamond ring
It sparkled so brightly in the window
But to me it didn't mean a thing
Both of us are sailors
And our words were noise on wing
Some lovers would buy it
And call it the wedding ring

[Chorus:]
And you recognized the danger
That you saw inside of me
So we both took a different road home
And said "Hello" and "Goodbye"
To the land of the so-called free

Now you got some change
Janglin' round in your purse
You used to call me a mean ol' daddy
But what made me mad was worse
You were just as crazy
Just as crazy as me
Two monsters laid out naked don't make no family

[Chorus:]
And we both saw the danger
Like the skin that crossed our skinned up knees
We were both worthless as money
In the land of the so-called free

Relative of mine
Took a gun to his head
Life just is to boring
Is what his little note said
A permanent solution
To a temporary thought
No heroes nowhere
No dreams could be caught

[Chorus:]
You recognize the danger
So no happiness, please
He was just getting even some
In the land of the so-called free

There's a song you can sing
When you're feeling down
Has a sweet little melody
Take away a frown
It's sort of repetitious
Says something about bein' free
Seems to make sense to a lot of people
But it makes no sense to me

[Chorus:]
I recognize the danger
Of all these false prophesies
Just leanin' on a cane in the corner
In the land of the so-called free
In the land of the so-called free