War / Sálumessa Songtext
von lyra messier

Many people think that the best way to escape war
Is to dwell upon its horrors
And to imprint them vividly upon the minds of the younger generation
They flaunt the grisly photographs before their eyes
They fill their ears with tales of carnage
They dilate upon the ineptitude of generals and admirals
They denounce the crime as insensate folly of human strife
Now, all this teaching ought to be very useful
In preventing us from attacking or invading any other country If anyone outside a madhouse wished to do so
But how would it help us if we were attacked or invaded ourselves?
That is the question we have to ask
Would the invaders consent to visit Lord Beaverbrook′s exhibition
Or listen to the impassioned appeals of Mr Lloyd George?
Would they agree to meet that famous South African, General Smuts
And have their inferiority complex removed
In friendly, reasonable debate?
I doubt it


I have borne responsibility for the safety
Of this country in grievous times
I gravely doubt it
But even if they did, I am not so sure we should convince them
And persuade them to go back quietly home
They might say, it seems to me: "You are rich; we are poor
You seem well fed; we are hungry. You have been victorious."