American Stars and Bars
Read American Stars and Bars lyrics by Neil Young on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
American Stars and Bars
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
It has often been my dream
To live with one who wasn't there
Like an ocean fish who swam upstream
Through nets, by hooks, and hungry bears
When the water grew less deep
My fins were aching from the strain
I'm swimming in my sleep
I know I can't go back again
Got the will to love, the will to love
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will
It's like something from up above
I can be like a fire in the night
Always warm and giving off light
But there comes a time when I shine too bright
Oh, I'm just a fire in the night
And now my fins are in the air
And my belly's scraping on the rocks
I still think someone really cares
And I'll keep swimming till I stop
Got the will to love, the will to love
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will
It's like something from up above
I'm like a singer on the stage
With the golden lights and liquid rage
Down from the mountains to the sea
Cool running love keeps cleansing me
It keeps my gills from getting dry
But it distorts things in my eyes
Sometimes I see what really isn't there
Like my true lover, and I care
Got the will to love, the will to love
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will
It's like something from up above
Sometimes I ramble on and on
And I repeat myself till all my friends are gone
And get lost in snow and drown in rain
And never feel the same again
I remember the ocean from where I came
Just one of millions all the same
But somewhere someone calls my name
I'm a harpoon dodger, and I can't, won't be tamed
Got the will to love, the will to love
I'll never lose it, never lose the will to love
Never lose the will
It's like something from up above
Baby, if I see boredom in your eyes
I'll know my river has run dry
But I won't turn back with that lonely tide
I bought that ticket and I'll take that ride
If we meet along the way
Please sway beside me, let us sway together
Our tails together and our fins and mind
We'll leave this water and let our scales shine
In the sun above and the sky below
So all the water and earth will know
It has often been my dream
To live with one who wasn't there
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "American Stars and Bars"?
Neil Young performs "American Stars and Bars", and this lyric page sits inside the Neil Young catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "American Stars and Bars"?
Yes. The related section below points to Journey Through The Past and My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue) with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Neil Young?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Neil Young's lyric pages.
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
What people are saying
No listener comments on American Stars and Bars yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.