war is not the answer

Verse 1

Mothers crying in the street, where the soldiers and the fallen meet

Children hiding from the bombs, another village in the palms

Of men who never had to fight, who send the young into the night

For flags and lines upon a map, another generation trapped

Pre-Chorus - Music builds with organ swells

They talk of peace but build the guns

They speak of freedom for their sons

But who will pay the heaviest price?

The innocent, the sacrificed

Chorus - Lead vocal with powerful, harmonizing backing vocals

Lead: War is not the answer, can't you see?

Backing: (Not the answer... no no)

Lead: Only tears and pain and misery

Backing: (Pain and misery)

Lead: Brother fighting brother in the rain

Backing: (In the rain... oh Lord)

Lead: Only sorrow from the bullet and the chain

Backing: (Bullet and the chain)

Verse 2

Generals sitting safe and high, watching body counts in the sky

They call it victory, call it brave, but they never visit the grave

Of the soldier who believed the lie, who went to battle just to die

For promises that never came, for politicians' empty fame

Pre-Chorus - Music builds

They drop the bombs from far away

Never seeing what they slay

But on the ground, the blood is real

The same blood that we all feel

Chorus - Lead vocal with full backing vocals

Lead: War is not the answer, can't you see?

Backing: (Can't you see... oh yeah)

Lead: Only tears and pain and misery

Backing: (So much misery)

Lead: Brother fighting brother in the rain

Backing: (Brother in the rain)

Lead: Only sorrow from the bullet and the chain

Backing: (Bullet and the chain)

Bridge - Music drops to just bass, drums, and haunting organ

Every soldier has a mother

Every child has a name

Every bullet takes a brother

Every war is just the same

Bloodshed... bloodshed...

Hook - Call and response, building intensity

Lead: No more war...

Backing: (No more war...)

Lead: No more pain...

Backing: (No more pain...)

Lead: No more fighting...

Backing: (No more fighting...)

Lead: In the rain...

Backing: (In the rain...)

Chorus - Lead vocal with passionate, layered backing vocals

Lead: War is not the answer, can't you see?

Backing: (NOT THE ANSWER!)

Lead: Only tears and pain and misery

Backing: (PAIN AND MISERY!)

Lead: Brother fighting brother in the rain

Backing: (BROTHER IN THE RAIN!)

Lead: Only sorrow from the bullet and the chain

Backing: (BULLET AND THE CHAIN!)

Outro - Music gradually softens, becomes more gentle

Lead: Put down the weapons...

Backing: (Put dem down...)

Lead: Stop the fighting...

Backing: (Stop it now...)

Lead: Love is waiting...

Backing: (Love is waiting...)

Lead: One love burning...

Backing: (Burning bright...)

(Final lines, spoken softly over fading music)

One love... one heart...

Let's get together...

And feel alright...

No more war...