Steppenwolf - The Wall lyrics

Words and music by John Kay, Michael Wilk and Rocket Ritchotte

Crossing the line in the dead of night

Five years old and on the run

This ain't no game, boy, don't make a sound

And watch that man with the gun

Say a prayer for the ones we leave behind, say a prayer for us all

Come take my hand now and hold on tight

Take one last look at that wall

Think of the shattered lives, think of the broken hearts

Think of the battered dreams, of families still torn apart

Wall of bitter tears, wall of crying pain

Wall of chilling fear, you will never keep me here

For I, I shall crawl right down through that wall

I will crawl right on through that wall

That fateful night I was one that got away,

A young and restless renegade

Chasing my dreams, still on the run,

I had some moments in the sun

Years flew by like a speeding bullet train, I sang my songs to one and all

Then came the day when I had a chance to pay

My respects to the names on that wall

I saw the wooden crosses, saw the bloody stains

Saw the gruesome pictures of all the ones that died in vain

Wall of countless victims, wall of endless shame

Had just one thing gone wrong I might have joined that list of names

And I cried for all who died there at the wall

I recall weeping at the wall

"Freedom has many difficulties, and democracy is not perfect,

But we've never had to put a wall up to keep our people in…

While the wall is the most obvious demonstration of the failures of communism,

We take no pride in it…for it is an offense against humanity, separating families,

Dividing husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and

People who wish to be joined together…

All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin

And therefore, as a free man I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner".

(Excerpts from John F. Kennedy speech at the Berlin wall June 26, 1963)

Turned on the news in November '89

I could not move, I could not speak

Something was burning up in my eyes,

Something wet ran down my cheek

All those laughing faces, all those tears of joy

All those warm embraces of men and women, girls and boys

Sisters and brothers dancing, all singing freedom's song

God, if only I could be there to shake your hands and sing along

Oh I, I would climb right up on that wall

And join you all dancing on the wall

Standing tall walking on the wall

Tear it down, right down to the ground

Tear it down, right down to the ground

© 1989 Black Leather Music, Inc., (BMI), Michael John Music (BMI), Attlebrat