the island

they say the skies of lebanon are burning

those mighty cedars bleeding in the heat

they're showing pictures on the television

women and children dying in the streets

and we're still at it in our own place

still trying to reach the future through the past

still trying to carve tomorrow from a tombstone

but hey don't listen to me

this wasn't meant to be no sad song

i've sang to much of that before

right now i only want to be here with you

till the morning due comes falling

i want to take you to the island

and trace your footprints in the sand

and in the evening when there's no one around

we'll make love to the sound of the ocean

they're raising banners over by the markets

white-washing slogans on the shipyard walls

witch doctors praying for a mighty showdown

the way a holy flag is gonna fall

up here we sacrifice our children

to feed the worn out dreams of yesterday

and teach them dying will lead us into glory

but hey don't listen to me

'cause this wasn't meant to be no sad song

we've had too much of that before

right now i only want to be here with you

till the morning dew comes falling

i want to take you to the island

and trace your footprints in the sand

and in the evening when the sun goes down

we'll make love to the sound of the ocean

now i know us plain folk don't see the bigger picture

and all this peace and love's just copping out

and the young boys dying in the ditches

is just what being free is all about

and how this twisted wreckage down on main street

will bring us all together in the end

as we go marching down the road to freedom

freedom