Simple Song of Peace    © 1981 RFRussell

I was listening to the classics, for the record ancient Greece
To the singer Lysistrata and her simple song of peace
The song was very simple, the war’d gone on too long
And she had to do something before too many lives were gone

She had the bright idea that the women could succeed
In turning their whole world around with one well-placed good deed
So she got them all together, all the women in one place
And together they decided to take the men on face to face

    They said, "men of this country, we are gathered here tonight
    To tell you that the game is up now—the women are all on strike
    There’ll be no more sweet affection, no more home sweet home
    Until you’ve laid your weapons down, we’re leaving you alone"

Well they picketed the fortress and they marched on city hall
And before too long the men found themselves up against a wall
They threatened and they pleaded, then they got down on their knees
But these women just repeated their simple song of peace

    "Men of this country, we are gathered here tonight
    To tell you that the game is up now—the women are all on strike
    There’ll be no more sweet affection, no more home sweet home
    'Til you’ve laid your weapons down, we’re leaving you alone"

You can guess what finally happened, and it would again today
The men decided women would just have to have their way
Given that choice they stopped fighting, then they loved until they died
And though the strike was soon forgotten, the song somehow survived

Two thousand years ago she did it, on the stage in ancient Greece
But the trick was written well in the simple song of peace
Sometimes it takes a long time for such notions to sink in
But it would work today if you hold out until you win

    "Men of this country, we are gathered here tonight
    To tell you that the game is up now—the women are all on strike
    There’ll be no more sweet affection, no more home sweet home
    'Til you’ve laid your weapons down, we’re leaving you alone"