Lyrics to the title cut 'Lives in the Balance', from Jackson Browne's 1986 release of the same name.I find these words powerful, profound, and appropriate, in view of the present conflict in Iraq. Acquaint or re-acquaint yourself with this fine and unique longtime American artist, most politically-aware, insightful, contemplative, and poetic.
LIVES IN THE BALANCEI've been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that you've seen it before
Where a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to warAnd there's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runsOn the radio talk shows and the T.V.
You hear one thing again and again
How the U.S.A. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends
These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally can't take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wireThere's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who fan the flames
Of the wars that are fought in places
Where we can't even say the namesThey sell us the President the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But they're never the ones to fight or to die
And there are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire
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Topic - Jackson Browne lyrics that befit our times. - CQ DX 14:05:56 07/12/06 (28)
- Re: Jackson Browne lyrics that befit our times. - josedouglas@yahoo.com 03:14:45 07/16/06 (1)
- Re: Jackson Browne lyrics that befit our times. - CQ DX 06:31:48 07/16/06 (0)
- on his newest live album he sings it re: Iraq. WONDERFUL - Duilawyer 07:54:20 07/15/06 (6)
- Any reason you're not posting on 'Outside' (if personal, that's cool) * - Guy, 08:00:02 07/15/06 (5)
- Bruce has banned me three time, twice admitting his mistake and - Duilawyer 08:18:57 07/15/06 (4)
- it is a not small point of pride that my first banning was for - Duilawyer 09:13:44 07/15/06 (3)
- For what it's worth, I'm with you (or your type) all the way... - Guy, 20:35:55 07/15/06 (2)
- It was my views Bruce wanted gone; - Duilawyer 21:21:13 07/15/06 (1)
- Re: Fine. Thanks. * - Guy, 21:55:25 07/15/06 (0)
- Re: Jackson Browne lyrics that befit our times. - rrsands 06:12:33 07/14/06 (1)
- Re: Jackson Browne lyrics that befit our times. - CQ DX 16:39:26 07/14/06 (0)
- Boring didacticism with trite theatrics. - J.R. 21:12:32 07/12/06 (2)
- IMO, this one is just as timely - JeffH 19:21:03 07/12/06 (3)
- Wow! That one pegged my barfmeter. NT - J.R. 22:38:53 07/12/06 (0)
- That is one of my favorites; I only wish it were better - audiogatorjim 22:00:08 07/12/06 (1)
- Try his 2 CD remastered greatest hits...(nt) - mkuller 11:26:20 07/14/06 (0)
- I guess the "why" would be on 9/11/01 when two - audiogatorjim 17:59:33 07/12/06 (7)
- Re: I guess the "why" would be on 9/11/01 when two - Duilawyer 08:22:34 07/15/06 (0)
- you are the last person alive trying to connect 9/11 and Iraq. - Duilawyer 07:53:33 07/15/06 (4)
- Why don't you please explain how my post made - audiogatorjim 18:30:57 07/15/06 (3)
- Re: A.G.: your 2nd paragraph eludes the thoughts of most of humanity... - Guy, 22:01:04 07/15/06 (2)
- Agreed, absolutely. - audiogatorjim 22:37:27 07/15/06 (1)
- Re: Agreed, absolutely. Acknowledged * - Guy, 11:15:18 07/18/06 (0)
- What does Iraq have to do with 9/11? The terrorists in those planes.... - hcman 22:34:32 07/12/06 (0)
- Agreed... - mkuller 17:39:53 07/12/06 (0)
- Lyrics that befit Jackson Browne. - Oswald Ramone 14:50:29 07/12/06 (0)