Today's the day our younger son

Is going off to war

Fightin' in the age old battle

We've sometimes won before

Flags that line old main street

Are blowin' in the wind

These must be the flags of freedom flyin'


Church bells are ringin'

As the families stand and wave

Some of them are cryin'

But the soldiers look so brave

Lookin' straight ahead

Like they know just where they're goin'

Past the flags of freedom flyin'


Sister has her headphones on

She hears the music blasting

She sees her brother marchin' by

Their bond is everlasting

Listening to Bob Dylan singin'

In 1963

Watching the flags of freedom flyin'


She sees the president speakin'

On a Flat-screen TV

In the window of the old appliance store

She turns to see her brother again

But he's already walkin' past

The flags of freedom flyin'


Have you seen the flags of freedom?

What color are they now?

Do you think that you believe in yours

More than they do theirs somehow?

When you see the flags of freedom flyin'


Today's the day our younger son

Is goin' off to war

Fightin' in the age old battle

We've sometimes won before

Flags that line old main street

Are blowin' in the wind

These must be the flags of freedom flyin'