10000 Maniacs - Please Forgive Us lyrics

[ music: robert buck/words: natalie merchant ]<br><br><br>Mercy, mercy, why didn't we hear it? <br>Mercy, mercy, why did we read it buried on the last page of our morning papers? <br>The plan was drafted, drafted in secret.<br>Gunboats met the red tide, driven to the rum trade for the army that they created.<br>But the bullets were bought by us, it was dollars that paid them.<br><br>Please forgive us, we don't know what was done in our name.<br>There'll be more trials like this in mercenary heydays.<br>When they're so apt to wrap themselves up in the stripes and stars<br>And find that they are able to call themselves heroes<br>And to justify murder by their fighters for freedom.<br><br>Please forgive us, we don't know what was done.<br>Please forgive us, we didn't know.<br>Could you ever forgive us? <br>I don't know how you could.<br>I know this is no consolation.<br><br>Please forgive us, we didn't know.<br>Could you ever believe that we didn't know? <br>Please forgive us, we didn't know.<br>I wouldn't blame you if you never could, and you never will.