Madame Selma keeps on smiling
selling postcards in the square
In all the photographs the Sun keeps on shining
And you can bet she's there-

One life coated in glossy color
The other coated in dust and blood

You wouldn't think that she'd ever seen the difference

But she did

Oh it's been so long since my man's been gone
And oh, what a woe for a woman in love to have to smile alone

Well it's been so long since my man's been gone
And oh, what a wonderful thing to have loved to have to die alone

In Selma's cards there're no folks fighting
No tattered cloth on splayed out bones

Only the Ottoman painted forests
And only the quaint old homes

But war stepped on our poor old door-steps
It's bloody boots on our welcome mat
And Madame Selma started singing a low song about her man

Oh it's been so long since my man's been gone
And if he's gone for the rest of my days
Will my love drag on?

Well, it's been so long since my man's been gone
And it's been so long since the right kind of man tried to take me home

(Trombone solo)

And one day all the soldier's came
______ By the joy they came
Beautiful young boys they came a-marching
The wheat fields waved their healthy hands
The children ran their healthy hands
Reaching for their fathers' hands ______
And through the streets the music sings
And through all the tears the music sings
And all the years like nothing ever happened

--- Cheering ---

Well it's been so long since my man's been gone
And it's been so long since the right kind of man tried to take me home
Madame Selma keeps on smiling
selling postcards in the square
In all the photographs the sun keeps shining
And you can bet she's there.