How Long

When you look into a child's face And you're seeing the human race And the endless possibilities there Where so much can come true And you think of the beautiful things A child can do How long -- would the child survive How long -- if it was up to you When you think about the money spent On defense by a government And the weapons of destruction we've built We're so sure that we need And you think of the millions and millions That money could feed How long -- can you hear someone crying How long -- can you hear someone dying Before you ask yourself why? And how long will we hear people speaking About missiles for peace And just let it go by How long will they tell us these weapons Are keeping us free That's a lie If you saw it from a satellite With its green and its blue and white The beauty of the curve of the earth And its oceans below You might think it was paradise If you didn't know You might think that it's turning But it's turning so slow How long -- can you hear someone crying How long -- can you hear someone dying Before you ask yourself why? And how long will it be 'till we've turned To the tasks and the skills That we'll have to have learned If we're going to find our place in the future And have something to offer Where this planet's concerned How long?