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If​/​Then

from 1939 by David Rovics

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To paraphrase Allan Nairn: if you burn down your neighbors house, don't complain if they run out onto your lawn.

lyrics

If you've heard the news of the beheadings, seen the planes on bombing runs
Read of the carnage at the weddings, heard about these men with guns
Seen the photos of buildings mangled, the footage of the fields burned
The shots of bodies left entangled, there should be a lesson learned

If you saw them walking into the cafes, standing in the crowd
If you've watched the replays, heard them shouting out aloud
Death to all the unbelievers, Allahu Akbar, God is great
If you've heard the screams there in the theater as they died for the Caliphate

If you saw the planes hit the towers, saw the smoke that filled the sky
Smelled the candles and the flowers – if you looked up and wondered why
Someone would be hell-bent to kill so many fellow men
If you wondered what they once meant when they said “never again”

Then you know why they are fleeing – there's a ringing in your ears
Then you see what they are seeing – you know why they're coming here
Then you understand your task now is to open up the door
Then you – you must give them shelter from the war

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from 1939, released January 11, 2016

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David Rovics Portland, Oregon

Singer/songwriter, writer, podcaster (on Spotify, Substack & Patreon), anarchist, dad, lover of life.

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