In the Streets Where Women Cry

In 1969 I watched the news from Vietnam on television. United States soldiers had just come in and were in the process of trying to take over a small city. People were dying in the streets and the camera came in on a woman sitting on the ground holding her dead child in her arms and weeping. The colors made it real to me and I felt in my mind as though I were there. It will never leave me. I asked myself: Is war necessary? Isn't there another way?

Last night I saw a woman cry

Because she watched her baby die.

He died from the firing of a gun

Used in a war which can't be won.

And lady … maybe it was your son

Who fired the bullet from the gun

Which killed the baby … who died

In the street where the woman cried.

Today I saw a little child.

The look in his eyes was not so wild.

He'll grow to be a peaceful man.

On guns and wars, he'll write a ban.

And lady … maybe it will be your son

Who will refuse to fire the gun

Which can kill the child … who will die

In the streets where women cry.