let these words go forth
from this time and place
to friends across the world
to every stranger's face
we've died in almost every way
we are the children of fear
we'll live to the end of eternity
give or take a million years
and to the world I am asking
why do you have these boundaries?
and you people, why are you pretending
not to know one another? oh please
tell me where are we not all one?
we have we to protect?
some nation under god?
or some shadow's self-respect?
we were the children of this god
we stood by heaven's gates
our nation's scattered to the wind
these Disunited States
we were living in your cities
it's put us out of touch
oh America, you eat your children
that's asking much too much too much
we're filled with city death
and the cities are filled with holes
to cover our Negro skin
to hide our Indian souls
we've died in almost every way
we are the children of fear
we'll live to the end of eternity
give or take a million years
and to the world I am asking
why do you have these boundaries?
are you people, why are you pretending
not to know one another? oh please
and America, why are you sending
your children from your gates
oh America, quit pretending
not to be the Disunited States
and America, why are you driving
your children from your shores
and your highways and your free streets
and from your beautiful door?

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