Please Forgive Us lyrics

Song information

Artist: 10000 Maniacs
Album: Blind Man's Zoo

Lyrics

"Mercy, mercy," why didn't we hear it?
"Mercy, mercy," why did we read it buried on the last page of our morning
Papers?
The plan was drafted, drafted in secret
Gunboats met the red tide, driven to the rum trade for the army that they
Created
But the bullets were bought by us, it was dollars that paid them

Please forgive us, we don't know what was done
Please forgive us, we don't know what was done in our name

There'll be more trials like this in mercenary heydays
When they're so apt to wrap themselves up in the stripes and stars and find that
They are able to call themselves heroes and to justify murder by their fighters
For freedom

Please forgive us, we don't know what was done
Please forgive us, we didn't know
Could you ever forgive us? I don't know how you could

I know this is no consolation
Please forgive us, we don't know what was done
Please forgive us, we didn't know
Could you ever believe that we didn't know?
Please forgive us, we didn't know
I wouldn't blame you if you never could
Please forgive us, we didn't know
I wouldn't blame you if you never could
Please forgive us, and you never will