Was it the Lone Ranger's face
That never looked like mine
Or a flesh-toned Crayola
To fix it up fine
Was it the first man in space
Or the second or the third
Or a picture of Jesus
Or the stories I'd heard

Well they can't be the reasons
For why I took aim
When I shouldered that rifle
I shouldered the blame
But just for one moment
It all seemed the same
Like it was just
The way that it was

Was it rocks through a window
At some kids on a bus
Was it Amos and Andy
Hey they look just like us
Was it sweet Miss America
In her lily-white gown
Is the man in the moon
Just a little bit brown

Well they can't be the reasons
For why I took aim
When I shouldered that rifle
I shouldered the blame
But just for one moment
It all seemed the same
Like it was just
The way that it was

Oh it was such a surprise
Mama shouting
Come and look see
We were on the TV
Oh what a sight for my eyes
Count us
One two three

Now I have to admit
Now that I've had my say
Things were different back then
Than they are here today
Well I wished I'd of seen it
When I was a kid
Maybe I'd have stopped doin'
All the things that I did
Cause when the governor don't call
And they pull the switch down
And I dim all the lights
In this little old town
Will they look back at me
When the years roll around
And say it was just
The way that it was

Oh it was such a surprise
Mama shouting
Come and look see
We were on the TV
Oh what a sight for my eyes
Count us
One two three