Mr. Lincoln I wish you were here The Republic's changed a lot in a hundred years And I don't think it's working like you planned Oh Mr. Lincoln we could use a hand I just read the headlines in The Nashville News And I wish I'd made this up but I'm afraid it's true 'Cause a man was murdered for his money in the streets He was taking his wife to a nice place to eat When they caught the man he did 23 months of time He pled insanity like they do now all the time Sir what would you have done in 1859 Now if you shoot someone Sir you can get off scot free It's the latest thing Mr. Lincoln can you believe Now they sue the manufacturers of the guns Ain't the law changed a lot since 1861 Mr. Lincoln I wish you were here 'Cause things have changed a lot in a hundred years And I don't think it's working out like you planned Hey Mr. Lincoln we sure could use a hand I just heard the news story on the radio They let dangerous men out of prisons now, yes sir I'm afraid it's so 'Cause they're overcrowded and it was only his fifth offense (Yeah) And this time, he's killed someone, does that make any sense Now my lawyer called me about a nuisance case 'Cause everybody sues over any little thing these days Well at least we're right, all we gotta do is tell the truth He said "You're living in the past you romantic fool" I said "You got that right, I lean toward the older ways And there's damn few backwoods lawyers left today" Mr. Lincoln I wish you were here The Republic's changed a lot in a hundred years And I don't think it's working like you planned Oh Mr. Lincoln we could use a hand Mr. Lincoln I wish you were here 'Cause things have changed a lot in a hundred years And I don't think it's working out like you planned (Ahh) Mr. Lincoln we sure could use a hand