If the War Goes On   (John Schumann)

It was one of those blue and white biscuit tins, with a picture of the Queen
and she kept his ribbons they sent her back in 1943
and a family photo on the beach, he was lifting up their son
and a piece of yellow newsprint with the words:
"If the war goes on"

It was a warm suburban morning, back in 1968
and a khaki-coloured car pulled up and parked across the gate
MIA, KIA, another soldier gone
and a generation lost in Asia
If the war goes on

The Kokoda trail to the Long Hai hills, for every bullet fired
the desperate drums of mankind are humming loudly on the wire
There's oil to drown the ocean, there are fires to drown the sun
How much longer, how much longer?
If the war goes on

They strapped my brother to an F18 and shot him into the night
Sirens are screaming, run for cover, pull that mask on tight
God's on our side, God's on their side, the Covenant's ripped and torn -
How much longer, how much longer?
If the war goes on

She packed her little son a bag and strapped it to his back
With some money and some food and a change of clothes
In case she didn't make it back
And she pinned a note inside his coat, "this little boy's name is Tom
He's only two, look after him - please
If the war goes on