10,000 Maniacs - Please Forgive Us Lyrics

Mercy, mercy, why didn't we hear it?
Mercy, mercy, why did we read it
Buried on the last page of our morning papers?

The plan was drafted, drafted in secret
Gunboats met the red tide
Driven to the rum trade for the army that they created
But the bullets were bought by us, it was dollars that paid them

Please forgive us, we don't know what was done
Please forgive us, we don't know what was done in our name

There'll be more trials like this in mercenary hey days
When they're so apt to wrap themselves up in the stripes and stars
And find that they are able to call themselves heroes
And to justify murder by their fighters for freedom

Please forgive us, we don't know what was done
Please forgive us, we didn't know
Could you ever forgive us? I don't know how you could

I know this is no consolation

Please forgive us, we don't know what was done
Please forgive us, we didn't know
Could you ever believe that we didn't know?
Please forgive us, we didn't know
I wouldn't blame you if you never could

Please forgive us, we didn't know
I wouldn't blame you if you never could
Please forgive us
And you never will