Shot 18

(album: No Rest For The Wicked - 1985)

Thou shalt not kill remember that?
You learnt it again and again when you were young
They said weapons have this safety catch
Your moral conscience tells you kid what's right, what's wrong
Well, they make out like they're so surprised
But it's easy when you're civilised
Count to ten, close your eyes
The way it's always been...
Shot 18, Shot 18, Shot 18

I think I was a bit surprised
I never knew I was so anaesthetised
And triggers pull so lightly and people die so easy
I never realised
Well, I believe in common laws
I believe in even scores
I understand the rules of war
The way the slate is cleaned...
Shot 18, Shot 18, Shot 18

Who wants another Christian martyr?
Who wants someone else's pain?
Who wants the world on their shoulder?
Who wants to have to cry in vain?
Who wants to have an open sore
Eating away deep inside you?
Who wants to torture themselves
When there's plenty eager to do it for you?

Well, years might heal all the scars
But I don't know if you feel like you have that time
And if I was the man that killed your father
And if I said I'm sorry, would that change your mind?
Well, no one should be so surprised
That words don't pay for victims' lives
It's teeth for teeth, eyes for eyes
The way it's always been...
Shot 18, Shot 18, Shot 18
Shot 18, Shot 18