Rice & Beans Songtext
von Utah Phillips

Alessandro has said he will run to the store
To bring back tobacco and beer
In silence we wait for the sound of the door
The hour of curfew is near
Outside I can hear the rattle of guns
The rumble of trucks in the street
Our lullaby ends, the dark hour comes
We whisper the small ones to sleep

Our lullaby ends, the dark hour comes
We whisper the small ones to sleep

In the morning I seek out the neighbors around
I ask them, but nobody knows
Did he stop for the night with friends in the town?
The doors of our friends are all closed
The sergeant looks up at the sound of my name
Quickly his eyes turn away
No need to answer, it′s always the same
On the edge of the town he will say


No need to answer, it's always the same
On the edge of the town he will say

Like a broken toy he lies in the dirt
And greets me with unblinking eyes
A blood-red rose has bloomed on his shirt
He sleeps to the music of flies

Lost in his silence, thoughtless I wait
For an angel of Christ to appear
My heart is closed in the black hand of hate
And hatred has stolen my tears
My heart is closed in the black hand of hate

Hatred has stolen my tears

A bullet will open such a small wound
When our children are led to the wall
The price of his life was the sun and the moon
The price of his death was so small
And where are the bullets to buy back the dreams
Of children who never grow old?
And why have you traded our rice and our beans


For coffee more precious than gold?
And why have you traded our rice and our beans
For coffee more precious than gold?

I will return to the sergeant again
In my manner no trace of surprise
He will look up at the sound of my name
To discover his death in my eyes
My brothers and sisters all flee to the wild
To counsel, to nurture and learn
And you who feast on the blood of a child
Sleep well until we return

And you who feast on the blood of a child
Sleep well until we return