Christy Moore - Hey Sandy lyrics

The sun was hot and the air was
Heavy and the marching men came by
You stood at the door and you watched
Then pass you asked the reason why
The sound of steel on their Jackboot
Heel came pounding through your head
Your reason is past, they've come at last
With the blessings of the dead

Hey Sandy, hey Sandy why are you the one?
All the years of growing up
Are wasted now and gone
Did you see them turn did you feel the
Burn of the bullets as they flew?
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy just what did you do?
At the college square they
Were standing there
With flag and with the gun
And the whispered words as
The young ones stirred
Why are these things done
And the air was still with the lonely
Thrill of now the hour is near
And the smell of sweat was better yet
Than the awful smell of fear

The awful shout as you all ran out
Why are these things done
And you stood and stared yet no
One cared for another campus bum
Your songs are dead and your hymns
Instead are to the funeral pyre
And the words of youth
Like love and truth are just
Ashes on the fire

Did you throw the stone at the men
Alone with their bayonets fixed for hire?
Did you think that they would kill no one
Did you scream as they opened fire?
As the square ran red with your bloodstains
Spread and the darkness round you grew
Did you feel the pain did you call the
Name of the man that you never knew?

Hey Sandy, hey Sandy why were you the one?
All the years of growing up
Are wasted now and gone
Did you see them turn
Did you feel the burn of
The bullets as they flew?
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy just what did you do?
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy just what did you do?

Well the sun was hot and the air was
Heavy and the marching men came by
And you ran to the door and you watched
Then pass you asked the soldiers "Why?"
The sound of steel and the black boot's
Heel was pounding in your head
And your freedom's past, they've
Come at last, with the blessings of the dead

In the college square they
Were standing there
With flag and with the gun
And the whispered words as
The young ones stirred
"Now at last they've come"
And the air was still with the lonely
Thrill of now the hour is near
And the smell of sweat was better yet
Than the awful stench of fear

Through the air th shout as you all ran
Out was "Why are these things done?"
You stood and you stared but no
One cared for another campus bum
And your songs were dead and your hymns
Instead were to the burning pyre
And the words of youth, like love and truth
Just ashes in the fire

Did you throw the stone at the men
Alone with their bayonets fixed for hire?
Did you doubt that they would
Say no one could
Did you scream when they opened fire?
As the square ran red with your bloodstains
Spread and the darkness round you grew
Through the fear and pain did you call the
Name of the man you never knew?
Reproduced with permission