Anchors A Double-U A Y

Instrumental IntroGrand naval brass fanfare, piccolo, crisp marching snares

Verse 1Mom, the domineering force
The one who set my life's course
Lurking there at every turn
With an acid quip that burned

Verse 2Her mother taught her how to sting
And find the fault in everything
It flowed like sap down the family tree
And finally found its way to me

ChorusAnchors A Double-U A Y!
No little fault could pass her by
Stand up straight and show some class
Keep the tarnish off the brass
Anchors A Double-U A Y!
Her own mistake will never die

Verse 3If you mispronounced a word
Her displeasure was harshly heard
No private space belonged to me
I was diagnosed with PTSD

Verse 4She snapped and came at me
For simply saying "La Kwinta"
She needled me relentlessly
Like a tiny timber splinter

ChorusAnchors A Double-U A Y!
No little fault could pass her by
Stand up straight and show some class
Keep the tarnish off the brass
Anchors A Double-U A Y!
Her own mistake will never die

Verse 5She raked my father through the coals
Then married twice for bigger bankrolls
She kept appearances pristine
And ruled the things that went unseen

BridgeHalf-time, tuba and snareShe ran a tight and spotless ship
And never let a correction slip
A real dipshit
Who hit me amidships

Instrumental BreakFull naval band, triumphant brass and woodwinds

Verse 6Stately, respectfulThat Master Chief had earned his place
At Arlington with solemn grace
She chose the words with practiced pride
And never saw the slip inside

Final ChorusFull male chorus, grand brass, crashing cymbalsAnchors A Double-U A Y!
No little fault could pass her by
Stand up straight and show some class
Keep the tarnish off the brass
Anchors A Double-U A Y!
Her own mistake will never die

RevelationFull band stops, single snare rollShe wrote the marker; what did it say?
Anchors A Double-U A Y!

OutroQuiet solo male voice, nearly spokenI told Arlington
to leave it alone
I liked it there for all time
And written in stone