At the Kent State university, what is going on
For the people on the ground who've done nothing wrong
The government pretends that it was self defense
We just can't believe that it was self defense
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America don't push you luck
Hey America, hey America you're fucking up...
Now you got to tell me ... what you have done
All the information shows us he tried to run
...
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America don't push you luck
Hey America, hey America you're fucking up...
...
And the government pretends that it was self defense
And the war in Vietnam continues everyday
Kill women and children over there, it's ok
...
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America don't push you luck
Hey America, hey America you're fucking up...
For the people on the ground who've done nothing wrong
The government pretends that it was self defense
We just can't believe that it was self defense
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America don't push you luck
Hey America, hey America you're fucking up...
Now you got to tell me ... what you have done
All the information shows us he tried to run
...
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America don't push you luck
Hey America, hey America you're fucking up...
...
And the government pretends that it was self defense
And the war in Vietnam continues everyday
Kill women and children over there, it's ok
...
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America what's going on
Hey America, hey America don't push you luck
Hey America, hey America you're fucking up...
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Testo incompleto
The obscure psychedelic rock group Children of the Morning, formed in Italy, released the song "Hey America, America" which criticised the US government for the Kent State killings.
Shel Shapiro, who led the group, composed the song. He had previously played with the British beat group The Rokes (1950s-60s). The narrator questioned the validity / plausibility of the argument that the National Guard fired in self defense: "government pretends that it was self defense". The lyrics then suggested that the killings harmed the reputation of the US: "America you're fucking up", which could have repercussions: "hey America don't push you luck".
The song ended with a general anti-war message, complaining that the "war in Vietnam continues", in which the soldiers "kill woman and children".
Vietnam War Songs Project