Once

When the time had come

Many times before

Many lives before

Many wives before

When every mother’'s child

Every father’'s son

Joined the regiments

Of the generals

When the night had gone

And the day had dawned

We realized how great a loss

Just once

If we only had a single chance

Just once

With a decision that would influence the world

What would we do if we were given just once

If the final rule

In a court of law

Could determine life

Or death for all

Or punishment

Of the innocent

And negligence

Of the guilty men

would the world be brought to loftiness

Or fall unto its knees

Just once

If we only had a single chance

Just once

With a decision that would influence the world

What would we do if we were given just once

To make the wisest choice that we have ever made

To spread a word of love to every race

Just once

What would we do if we were given

Just once