The country rock band Mason Proffit formed in 1968 in Indianapolis, Indiana, led by The Talbot Brothers - John Michael Talbot and Terry Talbot. While their two previous records made the charts, this one failed commercially. The song "Were You There" (Warner Bros. Records # BS 2657) contained socially conscience lyrics, running through several injustices throughout history - from slavery, to the Holocaust: "you cried when Hitler killed the Jews". It then moved to Vietnam, posing the question "were you there at My Lai?", and then entering into a plea for people to protest: "come all of you, it's time to take a stand".
You said something should be done
The way your slaves were shot and hung
You said that all men should be free
Were you there at Wounded Knee
You were living in ‘42
You cried when Hitler killed the Jews
You said that no race should have to die
Were you there at My Lai?
Were there when they called my country down?
Did you see her when she finally hit the ground?
Could you feel the tears she shed?
Were you there when Jesus bled?
Come all ye youth it’s time to take a stand
You have salvation in your hand
We need your words and more we need your minds
We need you straight not stoned and blind
Were you there when we walked across the land?
Was that you with a rifle in your hand?
Don’t try to run don’t try to hide
Were you there when freedom died?
Were you there when they called my country down?
Did you see her when she finally hit the ground?
Could you feel the tears she shed?
Were you there when Jesus bled?
Were you there to count the dead?
Were you there?
The way your slaves were shot and hung
You said that all men should be free
Were you there at Wounded Knee
You were living in ‘42
You cried when Hitler killed the Jews
You said that no race should have to die
Were you there at My Lai?
Were there when they called my country down?
Did you see her when she finally hit the ground?
Could you feel the tears she shed?
Were you there when Jesus bled?
Come all ye youth it’s time to take a stand
You have salvation in your hand
We need your words and more we need your minds
We need you straight not stoned and blind
Were you there when we walked across the land?
Was that you with a rifle in your hand?
Don’t try to run don’t try to hide
Were you there when freedom died?
Were you there when they called my country down?
Did you see her when she finally hit the ground?
Could you feel the tears she shed?
Were you there when Jesus bled?
Were you there to count the dead?
Were you there?
Contributed by dq82 - 2015/3/26 - 17:58
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