The Children - Jack Hardy
The swings were rusted 'cept the places worn smooth
by the hands of the children with nowhere to move
In the dry dusty playground in the midwestern heat
where the snakeweeds lie taunting and all's gone to seed
it was there I first ran as a coward runs back
from a bully named Butch and his muscles of fat
and he proved he was strong and I proved I was fast
though there's nothing needs proving at all
There were those who called us cowards again
to the ears of the children who don't understand
as the bullies marched off to a far away land
and we stayed at home to fight with our pens
and the bullies are home now with stares that could bleed
posing as heroes in a postcard parade
with new weapons to prove they deserved what they got
though there's nothing needs proving at all
Render Caesar his violence as well as his coin
the minds of the children need nothing to join
time's wasted fighting a battle all won
where some fight for honor and some just for fun
sing softly sing softly yet carry a big song
because we sing softly they think we're not strong
that we won't ever prove what they're doing is wrong
though there's nothing needs proving at all
© 1982 John S.Hardy Music Co. ASCAP