What's keeping the White House white?
Is it chalk, is it fog, is it fear? 
Are they staying up most of the night
And sending somebody out for a beer? 
Is it bed-time for Bonzo? 
Is it time for a change? 
Is it flavour-free TV dinners? 
It's a hard thing to take, when they make a mistake 
America for Beginners. 

The sound of a bell with a crack 
Even the swingers are swinging right 
The vigilantes are on the way back 
With prime-time "fight the good fight". 
What a start to a day 
It starts three times with a "K"; 
There's no sponsored hour for sinners 
They'II bring back the hot seat 
America for Beginners. 

That's America for Beginners. 

You wear designer jeans after dark 
And your shirts are sharp-cut in satin 
But won't you watch out for Central Park 
And apartments in uptown Manhattan. 

It's a sign of the times 
Better stay out in front 
Because they've only got time for the winners. 
Just keep living for fun, you son of a gun 
America for Beginners. 

Everywhere there's stripes and stars 
Men in dark suits in unmarked cars 
Sipping Jack Daniels in Third World bars 
They're close to the edge, 
They're as close as you can get.