I found a black beret on the street today

It was lying in the gutter all torn

There's a white flag flying on a tall building

But the kids just watch the storm Their dirty faces pressed on the windows

Shattered glass before their eyes

There's a mad dog barking in a burned out subway

Where the sniper sleeps at night No birthday songs to sing again

Just bricks and stones to give them

Wrap them up in your father's flags

And let them cry to Heaven No birthday songs to sing again

Just bricks and stones to give them

Wrap them up in your father's flags

And let them cry to Heaven There are many graves by a cold lake

As the beds where your babies are born

And your rag doll sits with a permanent grin

But the kids just watch the storm I saw a black cat tease a white mouse

Until he killed it with his claws

Seems a lot of countries do the same thing

Before they go to war No birthday songs to sing again

Just bricks and stones to give them

Wrap them up in your father's flags

And let them cry to Heaven Ohh, no birthday songs to sing again

Just bricks and stones to give them

Ohh, wrap them up in your father's flags

And let them cry to Heaven Let them cry to Heaven

Let them cry to Heaven

Let them cry to Heaven