A     E     D     E


[Verse 1]
A                E
  "Mercy, mercy",  why didn't we hear it?
A                E
  "Mercy, mercy",  why did we read it?
              D                        E
Buried on the last page of our morning papers?


[Verse 2]
A                      E
  The plan was drafted,  drafted in secret.
A                          E
Gunboats met the red tide, driven to the rum trade
        D                  E
For the army that they cre-ated.
        D
But the bullets were bought by us,
       E
It was dollars that paid them.


[Chorus]
A            E          G                   D
  Please forgive us, we don't know what was done,
A            E          G                   D           E
  Please forgive us, we don't know what was done in our name.


[Verse 3]
            A                        E
There'll be more trials like this in mercenary heydays.
             A
When they're so apt to wrap themselves up
       E
In the stripes and stars and find that
         D                       E
They are able to call themselves heroes
       D                                    E
And to justify murder by their fighters for freedom.


[Chorus]
A            E          G                   D
  Please forgive us, we don't know what was done,
A            E          G            D
  Please forgive us, we didn't know
A                   E          G          D          E
  Could you ever forgive us? I don't know    how you could.


[Interlude]
A     E     A     E


[Bridge]
       D               E
I know this is no consolation.


[Chorus]
A            E          G                   D
  Please forgive us, we don't know what was done,
A            E          G            D
  Please forgive us, we didn't know
A                  E             G            D
  Could you ever believe that we didn't know?
A            E          G
  Please forgive us, we didn't know.
           D                       A
I wouldn't blame you if yo u never could.
          E           G
Please forgive us, we didn't know.
           D                      A
I wouldn't blame you if you never could.
          E                      G      D
Please forgive us, and you never will