Many years back, a dusty track
And the trucks were winding down to the testing site
They had a bomb out there, I still see it clear
It turned night to day and day to endless night
Eleven hundred soldiers ordered to parade
Sent down towards that fireball, I still see it clear as day
It wasn't what they told us, it was what they didn't say
And if I knew what I was getting into
Nothing would have made me stay
To pay the price I have to pay today
But they told me it was safe, and they swore that was true
They said, The risks are all acceptable - acceptable to who?
They marched us down, we all stood around
And I think they knew what they didn't say out loud
Our only shelter there was the desert air
Hands on faces, backs to the deadly cloud
Then the world went white, I swear I saw the bones in both my hands
The ground was glowing cherry-red, so hot we couldn't stand
Something deep inside me told me what the army planned
And the deadly time-bomb started ticking
Deep inside my bones it's clicking
When you hear that sound you're quick to understand
But they told me it was safe, and they swore that was true
They said, The risks are all acceptable - acceptable to who?
Years went past, this one's my last
I still can't quite believe just what they did
Time went slow, all I've got to show
Is a lousy pension for my widow and my kids
So I thought you'd take a warning from one who's been hit hard
About their atom plants, their testing sites, their fences and their guards
Because the time-bomb is still ticking, right in your backyard
If you knew what you were getting into
Nothing would make you stay
To pay the price you'll have to pay some day
But they'll tell you it's safe, they'll swear that it's true
They'll say, The risks are all acceptable - acceptable to who?
They can't cover up the truth now, I feel it in my bones
They can fool you with statistics, but you'll pay the price
Alone
And the trucks were winding down to the testing site
They had a bomb out there, I still see it clear
It turned night to day and day to endless night
Eleven hundred soldiers ordered to parade
Sent down towards that fireball, I still see it clear as day
It wasn't what they told us, it was what they didn't say
And if I knew what I was getting into
Nothing would have made me stay
To pay the price I have to pay today
But they told me it was safe, and they swore that was true
They said, The risks are all acceptable - acceptable to who?
They marched us down, we all stood around
And I think they knew what they didn't say out loud
Our only shelter there was the desert air
Hands on faces, backs to the deadly cloud
Then the world went white, I swear I saw the bones in both my hands
The ground was glowing cherry-red, so hot we couldn't stand
Something deep inside me told me what the army planned
And the deadly time-bomb started ticking
Deep inside my bones it's clicking
When you hear that sound you're quick to understand
But they told me it was safe, and they swore that was true
They said, The risks are all acceptable - acceptable to who?
Years went past, this one's my last
I still can't quite believe just what they did
Time went slow, all I've got to show
Is a lousy pension for my widow and my kids
So I thought you'd take a warning from one who's been hit hard
About their atom plants, their testing sites, their fences and their guards
Because the time-bomb is still ticking, right in your backyard
If you knew what you were getting into
Nothing would make you stay
To pay the price you'll have to pay some day
But they'll tell you it's safe, they'll swear that it's true
They'll say, The risks are all acceptable - acceptable to who?
They can't cover up the truth now, I feel it in my bones
They can fool you with statistics, but you'll pay the price
Alone
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