He could barely remember when the fighting began
It was early September when he lost his old man
Soon the time came to leave there and to start a new life
How it seems so unfair when they gave him a gun and a knife

So he fights with a gun in his hand
For what reason he can't understand
Fights with a gun in his hand
For the freedom of the land

Can you hear the crying out?
All the people in El Salvador
Can you hear a distant shout?
From the people in El Salvador
Cross your heart and hope to die
For the people in El Salvador
Still they kill not knowing why
All the people in El Salvador

As he stares at the ceiling, he thinks back quite a ways
It was him that was feeling, telling you those were the days
As he stares at a white dove tears fall down on his face
An then once filled with love that only God his self can replace

So he fights with a gun in his hand
For what reason he can't understand
Fights with a gun in his hand
For the freedom of the land

Can you hear the crying out?
All the people in El Salvador
Can you hear a distant shout?
From the people in El Salvador

No

Can you hear them cry?
Can you see them die?
Can you tell me why? Oh no
See them die, hear them cry, tell me why 

No

Can you hear the crying out?
All the people in El Salvador
Can you hear a distant shout?
From the people in El Salvador
Cross your heart and hope to die
For the people in El Salvador
Still they kill not knowing why
All the people in El Salvador

Hear them cry
See them die
All the people in El Salvador