One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight I've got my clipboard, text books Lead me to the station Yeah, I'm off to the civil war I've got my kit bag, my heavy boots I'm runnin' in the rain Gonna run till my feet are raw Slip kid, slip kid, second generation And I'm a soldier at thirteen Slip kid, slip kid, realization There's no easy way to be free No easy way to be free It's a hard, hard world I left my doctor's prescription bungalow behind me I left the door ajar I left my vacuum flask Full of hot tea and sugar Left the keys right in my car Slip kid, slip kid, second generation Only half way up the tree Slip kid, slip kid, I'm a relation I'm a soldier at sixty-three No easy way to be free Slip kid, slip kid Keep away old man, you won't fool me You and your history won't rule me You might have been a fighter, but admit you failed I'm not affected by your blackmail You won't blackmail me I've got my clipboard, text books Lead me to the station Yeah, I'm off to the civil war I've got my kit bag, my heavy boots I'm runnin' in the rain Gonna run till my feet are raw Slip kid, slip kid, slip out of trouble Slip over here and set me free Slip kid, slip kid, second generation You're slidin' down the hill like me No easy way to be free No easy way to be free No easy way to be free

Oh, a storm is threat'ning My very life today If I don't get some shelter Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away Ooh, see the fire is sweeping Our very street today Burns like a red coal carpet Mad bull lost its way War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away Rape, murder It's just a shot away It's just a shot away Rape, murder It's just a shot away It's just a shot away Rape, murder It's just a shot away It's just a shot away The floods is threat'ning My very life today Gimme, gimme shelter Or I'm gonna fade away War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away It's just a shot away It's just a shot away It's just a shot away I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away It's just a kiss away Kiss away, kiss away

Like a bird on a wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free Like a fish on a hook Like a knight from an old fashioned book I have saved all my ribbons with thee And if I have been unkind I hope that you will just let it go by And if I have been untrue I hope you know it was never to you Like a baby stillborn Like a beast with his horn I have torn everyone who reached out for me But I swear by this song By all I have done wrong I'll make it all up to you I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch He called out to me "Don't ask for so much" And a young man leaning on his darkened door He cried out to me "Hey, why not ask for more" Like a bird on a wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free