Gunpowder traces
Charcoal circles on the ground
Shot me with a Roman candle
You really shouldn’t fool around

We stood there barefoot
Sweating in the summer heat
As the rockets turned to rainbows
In the middle of our street

Now the smoke has cleared
The fireworks show is over
Steam and sulphur
Now the smoke has cleared
The days when we were closer
Ashes smolder
On the fifth of July

I count ten heartbeats
Face the heat of your red glare
How I'll miss these grand explosions
F-bombs bursting in the air

Now the smoke has cleared
The fireworks show is over
Steam and sulphur
Now the smoke has cleared
Declare your independence
Or pledge allegiance
Do you want to be free
From me
On the fifth of July?