Cause for oppression the gaining of wealth
But as the dollar sign rises we're thrown into hell
War, death, disease, famine, murder and hunger
While you're living high and mighty were plotting down under
War and oppression the noose is pulled tighter
Tensions flare up and start a fire
As confusion sets in the future appears dim
You slide down the divide with no where to dig your nails in

He was just 17 with no prospect for a future
Wasn't gonna live his life as another fucking loser
He ran to pick up his things and he walked out the door
He's thinking about his family, he's thinking about his friends
He's thinking about a future that's loaded with dead ends
He's thinking about the beginning and he' thinking about the end
He's thinking about what happens after your dead

And as the sun climbs high in the mid American sky
He doesn't want to live but he doesn't want to die
He's eying all the students he's eying all the cops
He's reaching for his pistol and suddenly he stops

If we fight just like them the war is never won
We're gonna have to learn compassion, gonna have to turn the gun