The words as I understood them went something like:

Attach a lesion to the flag, of the United States of America,
into the Republic, where witches stand,
one nation, underground, and invisible, with liberty—and just this!—for all.

Each time I visited with friends and family for a year or so following my mastery of these enigmatic lyrics I was required, by my mother, to make a solo performance for everyone’s enjoyment.

Inevitably, once I took my place in front of my audience, someone from the crowd would cry out, in a shouting whisper, “Your right hand, Ricky! Other side! There you go!” at which point I would locate my heart, cover it as required by my teacher and this disturbing song, and proceed with my rendering of it.

I must say that every recital received applause and laudations from its spectators. Either I delivered it with such passion and fluidity that no one paid attention to the words I uttered, or they themselves didn’t know the true words and thus thought nothing of my odd rendition of them, or it was simply a wonderful joke amongst the grown-folks to watch little Ricky’s brow furrow at the speculation of where in our town the Republic might lie and just how many witches could be found there loitering about, preying upon young schoolboys. I suspect the latter of these possibilities to be the most likely.

Rick(y)

When I was in kindergarten, a bunch of different international flags hung on the walls of the classroom (I guess to show respect for ethnic diversity), and in the front of the classroom was the huge American Flag. Every day when we'd have to say the Pledge of Alligence, the teacher would say, "Now turn and face the flag." Because she never specified WHICH flag to turn to, I'd pledge alligence to a different flag every day! Eventually the teacher caught on and asked me what I was doing. When I explained myself, she laughed for about ten minutes straight!

Daile

When I was in kindergarden my Mum thaught I was learning some foreign language and immediatly called the teacher to find out why she wasn't told about. Here is what I was saying: "A fledga leedga tooda flack". It turned out to be the Pledge of Alleagance.

Tammy

Would you believe liver, tea, and justice for all? Tea I could take, but liver? Ewg!

Texas granny

When I first learned the Pledge of Allegiance in school, I thought I had to say the whole thing EVERY time I saw the flag.

Krista

I used to think the Pledge of Allegiance contained the phrase "I pledge a Legion to the flag, and to the Republicans for which it stands." (need I add that my Dad was both an American Legion member and a staunch Republican?)

Judy

I came home from the first day of Kindergarten all excited. I told my mother that I hoped to hold the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance tomorrow because then my classmates would say "for Laura stands". You see, Richard got to hold the flag the first day and we said the pledge to him, "for Richard stands". Mom got me straightened out right away.

Laura

I used to substitute teach for first graders while I was in college. One day (back in the days when we were allowed to do these things) right after opening prayer we began reciting the Pledge of Alliegance. I listened carefully to the young man next to me. I knew it wasn't correct so I called him to the side and asked if he could teach me the words. He immediately stood up, very proud, shoulders back, hand over heart, and said, "I led the pigeons to the flag, at the United Station America.... it was everything I could do to resist embarrassing that child. I had to leave the room and get some air before I passed out. But think about it. Logic has it that you see pigeons sitting on top of flag poles all the time. HEY! Wait! maybe we have it wrong. HA HA HA

Mike

"I pledege allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic four witches stand. One nation, under God, invisible with liberty and justice for all. Amen."

OmiGod! Does everyone else know!! Four witches, invisible (or was God invisible?). OmiGod! What am I praying to?!

alan