WE DIDN'T KNOW

 by Tom Paxton 

(E)We didn't know said the (A)Burgomeister, 
A(E)bout the camps on the (B7)edge of (E)town. 
It was Hitler (A)and his crew 
That (E) tore the German (B7)nation (E)down. 
(C#m)We saw the cattle cars it's true, 
And (E) maybe they carried a (B7)Jew or (E)two. 
They (C#m) woke us up as they rattled through, 
But (E) what did you ex(B7)pect me to (E)do? 

CH: (E) We didn't know at all, 
(A) We didn't see a (E)thing 
You can't hold us to blame 
(F#) What could we (B7)do? 
(E) It was a terrible shame 
(A) But we can't bear the blame 
(E)Oh no, not (A) us, we didn't (B7)know(E). 

We didn't know said the congregation 
Singing a hymn in their church of white 
The Press was full lf lies about us, 
Preacher told us we were right. 
The outside agitators came, 
They burned some chruches and put the blame 
On decent southern people's names, 
To set our colored people aflame, 
And maybe some of our boys got hot 
And a couple of niggers and reds got shot 
They should have stayed where they belong 
And preacher would've told us if we'd done wrong. 

CH 

We didn't know said the puzzled voter, 
Watching the President on TV. 
I guess we've got to drop those bombs 
If we're gonna keep South Asia free. 
The President's such a peaceful man, 
I guess he's got some kind of plan, 
They say we're torturing prisoners of war, 
But I don't believe that stuff no more, 
Torturing prisoners is a communist game 
And You can bet they're doing the same. 
I wish this war was over and through, 
But what do you expect me to do? 

CH