The Island

They say the skies of Lebanon are burning

Those mighty cedars bleedin' in the heat

They're showing pictures on the television

Women and children dying in the street

And we're still at it in our own place

Still tryin' to reach the future through the past

Still tryin' to carve tomorrow from a tombstone...

But Hey! Don't listen to me! this wasn't meant to be no sad song .

We've heard too much of that before

Right now I only want to be here with you Till the morning dew comes falling And I wanna take you to the island  Trace your footprints in the sand 

And in the evening when the sun goes down We'll make love to the sound of the ocean

They're raising banners over by the markets 

Whitewashing slogans on the shipyard walls 

Witchdoctors praying for a mighty showdown No way our holy flag is gonna' fall 

Up here we sacrifice our children To feed the worn-out dreams of yesterday And teach them dying will lead us into glory...

But Hey! Don't listen to me! cos this wasn't meant to be no sad song .

I've sung too much of that before 

Right now I only want to be here with you Till the morning dew comes falling I wanna take you to the island And trace your footprints in the sand 

And in the evening when there's no one around We'll make love to the sound of the ocean

Now I know us plain folks don't see all the story 

And I know this peace and love's just copping out 

And I guess these young boys dying in the ditches Is just what being free is all about 

And how this twisted wreckage down on main street Will bring us all together in the end 

And we'll go marching down the road to freedom... Freedom……. Freedom