Rise then fall, surely as a man-made wall risen in a time of war
Is all she’s ever known

Layla grew up playing in the streets
Fired rounds cut the bottom of her feet

She’s only sixteen going on seventeen
Waking, living in a bad dream
Sixteen going on seventeen
She tries
She’s only sixteen going on seventeen
Eighteen, Is only in her fantasy
Sixteen going on seventeen
She tries
She’s only sixteen

Eyes that don’t ever see the light lose hope, but every single day she
Prays for a better tomorrow

Faith leads to all possibilities
In the night she dreams of freedom and of peace

She’s only sixteen
Out of sight
Another number on a headline