[Richie Havens cover]



You can talk about your neighbor

You can grab him by the collar

You can hurt him only if he hollers

"let me go?-let me go"



But we all know that's old-fashioned

And it can only lead to pain

Where we might end up on the corner

Taking handouts in the rain



You can bomb your foreign brother

You can hurt him until he dies

You can kill him until he never asks you why

You're on his land?-you're on his land



But we all know that's all over

And that can only lead to blame

Where we might end up for our country

Taking handouts in the rain



You can trample on your sister

You can hurt her only if she cries

You can hurt her only if she cares

With all her heart?-with all her heart



But we all know she'd be a mother

And that could only lead to shame

Where she might end up for her children

Taking handouts in the rain



Teach your children stories

You can fill them full of lies

You can make them all despise

One another?-one another



But when they all find out later

And they call us by our rightful names

And send us shamefully to old age

Taking handouts in the rain

Taking handouts in the rain

Taking handouts in the rain