On a quiet island beach
beneath the Caribbean sun
Two lovers on vacation,
precious time that is hard won
And what man traced their footprints
in the fine -grained ocean sand
And drew a cloak of violence
over sweet vacation plans
Now the house is empty,
the phone will ring again
The city mourns and walks the streets
where gentle hands had been.
Where do they learn it's man -laid
to shoulder guns to fight?
To prove their strength and power
by cutting down a life.
Some move inspiration
where the hero always wins.
A plastic toy all gift -wrapped
and the violence begins.
On an Appalachian trail
where pine trees filter out the light
Two women hike all day
and pitch their tent at night
The man had crossed their path,
fascinated by the pair
To see them lovers and at peace,
just more than he could bear
So sure he had a right,
he raised the rifle high
One woman crawled away
and the other lost her life
Where do they learn
it's manly to shoulder guns, to fight?
To prove their strength and power
by cutting down a life?
Some movie inspiration
where the hero always wins
A plastic toy, a gift wrap,
and the violence begins
Last day before exams,
and the classrooms all are full.
Joyeuse nouvelle année,
hanging gaily on the wall.
And one man dressed in blue jeans
with a rifle in his hands.
Ammunition strapped across his chest
in Rambo -style bands.
So sure he had a right
He raised the rifle high
And soon the halls were bloody
Where fourteen women died
Now do you think it's nature
Just a quirk in one man's brain
An isolated case
That will not raise its head again
When it was lynchings in the South
Well, we call it by its name,
racist vi olence, flaming victims,
and a culture clearly blamed.
In the papers we are missing,
too often never found,
the numbers they just multiply
and fear it circles round.
We are women of strong hearts,
we fight to hold our rightful place.
We call these wrongs a system
with a structure you can trace.
In the history that they teach us
and the laws they will not pass.
In the laughter and derision
when we raise our voice at last.
In the courts and in the streets,
we'll raise the voices high.
And each death kneels in mourn,
exposing every lie.
Where do they learn
it's manly
to shoulder guns to fight?
To prove their strength and power
by cutting down a life?
Some movie inspiration
where the hero always wins.
A plastic toy all gift -wrapped,
and the violence begins.
On a quiet island beach
beneath the Caribbean sun
On an Appalachian trail
where pine trees filter out the light
Last day before exams,
and the classrooms all are full
In the courts and in the streets,
we'll raise the voices high
Raise the voices high
You
Cathy Winter 
