The Island

(Album: Back To The Centre - 1985)

They say the skies of Lebanon are burning
Those mighty cedars bleeding in the heat
They're showing pictures on the television
Women and children dying in the streets
And we're still at it in our own place
Still trying to reach the future through the past
Still trying to carve tomorrow from a tombstone

But hey don't listen to me
This wasn't meant to be no sad song
I've sang to much of that before
Right now I only want to be here with you
Till the morning due comes falling
I want to take you to the island
And trace your footprints in the sand
And in the evening when there's no one around
We'll make love to the sound of the ocean

They're raising banners over by the markets
White-washing slogans on the shipyard walls
Witch doctors praying for a mighty showdown
The way a holy flag is gonna fall
Up here we sacrifice our children
To feed the worn out dreams of yesterday
And teach them dying will lead us into glory

But hey don't listen to me
'Cause this wasn't meant to be no sad song
We've had too much of that before
Right now I only want to be here with you
Till the morning dew comes falling
I want to take you to the island
And trace your footprints in the sand
And in the evening when the sun goes down
We'll make love to the sound of the ocean

Now I know us plain folk don't see the bigger picture
And all this peace and love's just copping out
And the young boys dying in the ditches
Is just what being free is all about
And how this twisted wreckage down on main street
Will bring us all together in the end
As we go marching down the road to freedom, freedom