[Verse 1]
Well, ain't it a shame
'bout our short little memory?
Never seem to learn
The lessons of history
We keep making the same mistakes
Over and over and over and over again
And then we wonder why
We're in the shape we're in

Good old boys down at the bar
Peanuts and politics
They think they know it all
They don't know much of nothing
Even if one of them was to read a newspaper
Cover-to-cover
That ain't what's going on
Journalism dead and gone

[Chorus]
Frail grasp on the big picture
Light fading and the fog is getting thicker
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
Dark ages

[Verse 2]
You, my love-drunk friend
All that red wine and candlelight
Soulful conversations
That go on until the dawn
How many times can you tell your story?
How many hangovers can you endure
Just to get some snuggling done?
You're living in a hormone dream
You don't have the slightest notion
What long-term love is all about
All your romantic liaisons
Don't deal with eternal questions like
"Who left the cap off the freaking toothpaste?"
"Whose turn to take the garbage out?"

[Chorus]
Frail grasp on the big picture
You keep on rubbing and you're gonna get a blister
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
And I've seen it all before

[Bridge]
And we pray to our Lord
Who we know is American
He reigns from on high
He speaks to us through middlemen
And he shepherds his flock
We sing out and we praise His name
He supports us in war
He presides over football games
And the right will prevail
All our troubles shall be resolved
We have faith above all
Unless there's money or sex involved
[Chorus]
Frail grasp on the big picture (Nobody)
Nobody's calling and they're roughing up the kicker
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
Heaven help us

Frail grasp on the big picture
All waiting for that miracle elixir
It's a frail grasp on the big picture
I don't wonder anymore

Frail grasp on the big picture (Somebody)
You brought her here so go ahead and kiss her
It's a frail grasp on the big picture

Frail grasp on the big picture (Hold on, hold on)
Light fading and the fog is getting thicker
It's a frail grasp on the big picture

[Outro]
Frail grasp on the big picture
Frail grasp on the big picture