You can cut it with a knife
 You can stay and take your changes
 Or you can run to save your life
 And one side is retreating
 And the other's runnin scared
 And the drums of war are beating
 Ever through its undeclared

 And both sides say they're winning
 And both sides know they're losing
 And neither one knows that they're fighting for
 And in the quiet little places
 You can see the little faced
 Huddled right outside the bedroom door
 Praying for an end to this uncivil war

 Papa needs a new job
 So he's swallowing his pride
 Oh, but it don't go down easy
 And it eats him up inside
 And mama, she don't notice
 Little sister's ragged dress
 Lately she don't notice
 Much of anything
 I guess

 Both sides say they're winning
 And both sides know they're losing
 And neither one knows that they're fighting for
 And in the quiet little places
 You can see the little faced
 Huddled right outside the bedroom door
 Praying for an end to this uncivil war

 They're just fightin off the hunger
 Tryin to keep from goin under
 But the wolves just keep on
 Gatherin' round the door
 There's no place to run for cover
 So they're turning on each other
 Cause there really ain't no winners anymore
 Just victims of this uncivil war

 There's a silence on the front life's
 You can cut it with a knife
 You can stay and take your chances
 Or you can run to save your life