David Rovics - What If You Knew lyrics

If you knew that the earth was dying If they said this on the news If they would clarify the picture Instead of seeking to confuse If you could see the ice caps melting If you could watch the oceans rise If you could see the consequences Right before your eyes If you knew the kids were dying If you could look inside The river where their food comes from Filled with cyanide If you could hear the parents pleading If they were looking right at you If you could see the anguish in their hearts What if you knew If you knew the bombs were falling If they showed them hit the ground If you could see the bodies flying If you could hear the sound If you could see the rubble Where the hospital once stood If you saw the child's lifeless limbs Would you hold them if you could If you knew that they were lying Every time they spoke For every laser-guided pinprick There were lives lost in the smoke If instead of just the generals They had doctors, too To describe the carnage of the cluster bombs What if you knew If you knew what they were saying When they think you cannot hear If you understood what they do If for you it was so clear If you knew they shut down the factory In an economic ruse If you could kiss the cheek of the child In the sweatshop that made your shoes If every time we went to war To fight our evil foes They told you we were really fighting For the good of CEOs If you could feel the hunger of the many And see the riches of the few If they told it like it is What if you knew If you knew that you were living In a huge conspiracy Would you leave your suburbs Get out of your SUV Would you hit the streets And fight for all our lives Would you hold your ground When the stormtroopers arrive If you knew that the whole planet Depended on what you do now Would you take command With the speed our times allow If the pundits told the truth For just a week or two And real life was shown on TV What if you knew