More Than 1,000,000 Americans

In 1968 Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King
were killed by bullets, a tragic shameful thing
in the years that followed in this land of the free
how many more Americans would die in a shooting spree?

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention
tracks this data down, brings it to our attention
From 1968 to now the number killed by guns
stuns

More than one million Americans -- babies, toddlers, mothers
more than one million Americans -- fathers, sisters, brothers
More than one million Americans -- students, teachers, brides
More than one million American murders and suicides

more than one million Americans -- neighbors, daughters, sons
more than one million Americans -- killed by guns
more than a million American families miss someone every day
more than one million American lives simply blown away

More than a million birthdays
a million graduations
more than a million weddings
with a million expectations
how can anybody justify this annihilation
why is it we never get a convincing explanation

more than one million Americans -- grandparents, husbands, wives
more than one million American permanently interrupted lives
more than one million Americans -- co-workers and friends
more than one million Americans met heartbreaking ends

More than one million Americans who needed our protection
more than one million Americans who can't vote the next election
more than one million Americans who no longer have a choice
for more than one million Americans we must raise up our voice

In 1968 Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King
were killed by bullets, a tragic shameful thing
in the years that followed in this land of the free
more than a million Americans died in shooting sprees

Inspired by Bob Herbert's column "Hooked On Violence"
published April 26, 2007 in The New York Times

Credits:

Christine Lavin: voice and guitarSteve Doyle: bass
Robin Batteau: violinBrian Bauers: percussion/sfx
produced by Christine Lavin Brian Bauers
engineered by Brian Bauers at Midtown Sound, NYC