help the children

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a generation's trying

oh

how we're dying

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a better day is coming

to keep our lives going

life is here and then it's gone

and what seems right can be oh-so wrong

let's protect

and not molest. a young girl

and help them live to see. this world

clearly

as it is

and pray for the mother with kids

who's lost control

but not her soul

many kids will die before they're 20 years old

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a generation's trying

oh

how we're dying

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a better day is coming

to keep our lives going

pops where in the world have you gone

i see momma by the telephone

waiting but you don't call

tears on her face and i see them fall

it hurts but will go on

you're just another brother who's left his home

and family

yeah we cry

momma says she love you and i don't even know why

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a generation's trying

oh

how we're dying

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a better day is coming

to keep our lives going

money and death

the lie

the truth

a dime bag of crack

the end of you

black and white

a constant fight

years and years

and day and night

there was a right

i've got to stand

to make a better way for a young black man

in a land where the people smile

been holding me back for such a long while

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a generation's trying

oh

how we're dying

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a better day is coming

to keep our lives going

help them

will you let them be?

children don't be fooled

and learn about the way that man was ruled

this country where we live

and read about the sixties and what they did

so that we won't forget

and love one another and give respect

when i see a man who's old

a woman who's grey

it touches my soul

because i know they paved the way

so we could be here and live this way

there was a time not long ago

when in the-front-of-the-bus into the back i had to go

it appears that things have changed

maybe it's in the method but it's still the same game

will you let them be?

will you help the children live to see. a generation's trying

oh

how we're dying

will you let them be?!?!?!