I was born in a time
before all this madness started
I was born in a time
when no prisoner had to die
now our leaders have decided
that we need an execution
and I stand here tonight
and I cannot tell you why

are we suddenly clear
on who needs execution
are we suddenly sure
of our wrong and our right
did we suddenly learn
we are never mistaken
are we ready to learn
are we ready tonight

does it help us to take
our hope from each other
does it help us to take
our own brothers’ lives
I have tried with my mind
I have tried to understand it
I have tried with my heart
I have tried and I’ve tried

does a righteous world
need to have such a prison
does a righteous world
need to have such walls
does a righteous world
need to kill to be kinder
does a righteous world
need to kill at all

(repeat 1st verse)