There's a silence on the front lines

You can cut it with a knife

You can stay and take your chances

Or you can run to save your life

One side is retreating

And the other's runnin' scared

And the drums of war are beating

Even though it's undeclared



And both sides say they're winning

And both sides know they're losing

And neither one knows what they're fightin' for

And in the quiet little places

You can see the little faces

Huddled right outside the bedroom door

Praying for an end to this uncivil war



Papa needs a new job

So he's swallowing his pride

Oh, but it don't go down easy

And it eats him up inside

And Mama, she don't notice

Little sister's ragged dress

Lately she don't notice

Much of anything I guess



They're just fightin' off the hunger

Trying to keep from going under

But the wolves just keep on

Gatherin' 'round the door

There's no place to run for cover

So they're turning on each other

'Cause there really ain't no winners anymore

Just victims in this uncivil war



There's a silence on the front lines

You can cut it with a knife

You can stay and take your chances

Or you can run to save your life