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 heydays

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