The Wall

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'

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