[ music: robert buck/words: natalie merchant ]


Mercy, mercy, why didnt 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 dont know what was done in our name.
Therell be more trials like this in mercenary heydays.
When theyre 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 dont know what was done.
Please forgive us, we didnt know.
Could you ever forgive us?
I dont know how you could.
I know this is no consolation.

Please forgive us, we didnt know.
Could you ever believe that we didnt know?
Please forgive us, we didnt know.
I wouldnt blame you if you never could, and you never will.