please papa, let me be a patriot

sweetly, I tie the red ribbon around my neck
and sing of the honor of my country

the good men and women, whose legs litter the desert
whose children weep
whose long sighs go unremembered

sweetly, I tie the blue ribbon around my neck
and sing of the blood of my country

the enemies who rise up against me
whose children weep
whose cries for my death go unheard.

sweetly, I tie the white ribbon around my neck
and sing of the strength of my country

the unwritten, the unborn whose dreams save me
whose prayers praise God
whose love for me goes before me to heaven.