Shot 18 Lyrics - New Model Army

Thou shalt not kill - remember that? 

You learnt it again and again when you were young 

They said weapons have this safety catch 

Your moral conscience tells you kid what's right, what's wrong 

Well they make out like they're so surprised 

But it's easy when you're civilised 

Count to ten, close your eyes 

The way it's always been . . Shot 18 

I think I was a bit surprised 

I never knew I was so anaesthetised 

And triggers pull so lightly and people die so easy 

I never realised 

Well I believe in common laws 

I believe in even scores 

I understand the rules of war 

The way the slate is cleaned . . Shot 18 

Who wants another Christian martyr? 

Who wants someone else's pain? 

Who wants the world on their shoulder? 

Who wants to have to cry in vain? 

Who wants to have an open sore 

Eating away deep inside you? 

Who wants to torture themselves 

When there's plenty eager to do it for you? 

Well, years might heal all the scars 

But I don't know if you feel like you have that time 

And if I was the man that killed your father 

And if I said I'm sorry, would that change your mind? 

Well no one should be so surprised 

That words don't pay for victims' lives 

It's teeth for teeth, eyes for eyes 

The way it's always been . . Shot 18