[Verse 1]
X-ray man scanning my body
Yankee boy looking for war
Charlie's coming out as a commie
Echo shakes me to the core

[Pre-Chorus]
It's time for a lesson
Push me to the shore
It could do us good now
To learn a little more

[Chorus]
We can sink or swim
When I ask for breath I receive it now
We can sink or swim
If I close my eyes I can see the south
We can sink or swim
If your courage runs let me take you down

[Verse 2]
India's making a baby
In a hotel room two blocks away
Uniforms coming to take me
Doctor, doctor, I can explain
[Pre-Chorus]
It's time for a lesson
In the lighthouse on the pier
It could do us good now
To get out of here

[Chorus]
We can sink or swim
When I ask for breath I receive it now
We can sink or swim
If I close my eyes I can see the south
We can sink or swim
If your courage runs let me take you down

[Instrumental Break]

[Bridge]
It's time for a lesson
Take me to the shore
It could do us good now
To love a little more

[Chorus]
We can sink or swim
When I ask for breath I receive it now
We can sink or swim
If I close my eyes I can see the south
We can sink or swim
You're slowly sinking, I'm gonna lift you out
We can sink or swim