Please Forgive Us

Mercy, mercy, why didn't we hear it?

Mercy, mercy, why did we read it

Buried on the last page of our morning papers?



The plan was drafted, drafted in secret

Gunboats met the red tide

Driven to the rum trade for the army that they created

But the bullets were bought by us, it was dollars that paid them



Please forgive us, we don't know what was done

Please forgive us, we don't know what was done in our name



There'll be more trials like this in mercenary hey days

When they're so apt to wrap themselves up in the stripes and stars

And find that they are able to call themselves heroes

And to justify murder by their fighters for freedom



Please forgive us, we don't know what was done

Please forgive us, we didn't know

Could you ever forgive us? I don't know how you could



I know this is no consolation



Please forgive us, we don't know what was done

Please forgive us, we didn't know

Could you ever believe that we didn't know?

Please forgive us, we didn't know

I wouldn't blame you if you never could



Please forgive us, we didn't know

I wouldn't blame you if you never could

Please forgive us

And you never will