Story Behind The Song
I was working with troubled teens at one time, and one of my most troubled and dangerous young men (who was also my favorite teen to work with) had just come back from visiting his dad. His dad had just taught him how to make bombs at home. Wow.
I'm hap
Song Description
A look at gun violence and youth.
| Song Length |
2:27 |
Genre |
Folk - Alternative, Folk - Country |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Troubled, Heartbreaking |
Subject |
Baby, Children, Crime, Theft |
| Similar Artists |
Lucinda Williams, Linda Ronstadt |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
He lay awake at night
He listens to the sound
Of the street outside
How his young heart pounds
He hears a shout
A fight has just begun
He hopes to hear the voice of reason
And not a blast that?s the voice of a gun
He?s a trouble boy
In a violent land
And if he lives that long
He?s gonna be an angry man
His future looks
Like the blood red setting sun
If he don?t learn the voice of reason
He?s gonna speak with the voice of a gun
But he?s taught by angry words and the back of a hand
There ain?t no doubt
It?s hard to be a peaceful man
And everywhere he looks
There?s evidence of course he?s right
From his own backyard, around the world
He?s educated might makes right
Rifle crack at the break of dawn
Just a quick look back
And away he run
The heartbeat stopped
Can?t ever be undone
He never learned the voice of reason
Now he only speaks with the voice of a gun.