[Richie Havens cover]

You can talk about your neighbor

You can grab him by the collar
You can hurt him only if he hollers
"let me go?-let me go"


But we all know that's old-fashioned
And it can only lead to pain

Where we might end up on the corner
Taking handouts in the rain


You can bomb your foreign brother
You can hurt him until he dies
You can kill him until he never asks you why

You're on his land?-you're on his land

But we all know that's all over

And that can only lead to blame
Where we might end up for our country
Taking handouts in the rain


You can trample on your sister
You can hurt her only if she cries

You can hurt her only if she cares
With all her heart?-with all her heart


But we all know she'd be a mother
And that could only lead to shame
Where she might end up for her children

Taking handouts in the rain

Teach your children stories

You can fill them full of lies
You can make them all despise
One another?-one another


But when they all find out later
And they call us by our rightful names

And send us shamefully to old age
Taking handouts in the rain
Taking handouts in the rain

Taking handouts in the rain