With the Bang of a Gun

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
A boy fell slain on the hot black pavement;
A mother cries out and a babe was scream'n.

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
The child was young and barefooted;
With long baggy shorts and bare-chested.

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
Carrying an old wooden bat and a tapped up ball;
He was going to enjoy the June day, play ball.

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
He never had a chance nor did he even have time to care;
He was going to be third base at the cardboard square.

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
The news made him famous and the anchor shed no tear;
The police had a lead, some tire tread on the street.

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
The funeral was packed, all the neighborhood shared;
Even the shooter, barely a teen, was there, nobody knew nobody cared.

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
The body was buried and the lead went cold;
The news got old and the world turned its ear.

The world turns its ear, with the bang of a gun;
One knows violence is everywhere from Chicago to Paris and to the Congo;
Yet one little child in no longer more, quickly forgotten, how cold our hearts grow.

Everyone is precious even death row;
And life is hard this we know;
So give a hand and help a brother, mother, sinner, and winner.

We are all here together for better, for worse;
A smile goes far much more than verse;
The world turns its ear not with the bang of a gun;
But with a helpful word.