So they've stopped making speeches and they've started making war
There are plastic pocket calculators tallying the score
And a multitude of gentle hearts are wildly skipping beats

And is this why we all went marching in the streets

The uniforms go marching by in jets of screaming pain

As they rise into the rockets holding poisons dressed as rain
And a million brazen buglers can no longer sound retreat
And is this why we all went marching in the streets


Now they've found a way to kill the men and let the buildings stand
And they've blindly put the switches into aging madmens' hands

Ones who dream of war and glory and a thousand mighty feats
And is this why we all went marching in the streets


Now the children are demanding if we've sold our souls or worse
As we tear their world to splinters for the profits of our purse
As they turn their backs on us the question once again repeats

Is this why we all went marching in the streets

So you think no more of marching all the protesters are gone

And you've paid the price once asked of you and now the debt is done
Well believe it if you will but if you don't get off your seats
They'll soon have us all out marching in the streets


We are raising up our voices for the cause of peace again
They're preparing us for war now but they will not tell us when

We must stop them here and now before the final armies meet
Or there'll be no one left for marching in the streets


And is this why we all went marching in the streets?