He could barely remember When the fighting began It was early September When he lost his old man Soon (the time) came to leave there And (to start) a new life How it seems so unfair When they (gave him a gun and a knife) So he fights with a gun in his hand For what reason he can't understand Fights with a gun in his hand For (the) freedom (of the land) Can you hear the crying out All the people in El Salvador Can you hear a distant shout From the people in El Salvador (Cross your heart and hope to die) For the people in El Salvador Still they kill not knowing why All the people in El Salvador As he stares at the ceiling He thinks back quite a ways It was (him that was) feeling Tellin' you those were the days As he stares at a white dove Tears fall down on his face An then once filled with love that only God his self can replace So he fights with a gun in his hand For what reason he can't understand Fights with a gun in his hand For (the) freedom (of the land) Can you hear the crying out All the people in El Salvador Can you hear a distant shout From the people in El Salvador Can you hear them cry? Can you see them die? Can you tell me why? Oh no See them die, hear them cry, tell me why