In Croatia, bombs and rockets fell
A mother held her daughter and cried
In the distance the church bell
Told them to run and hide

“Why do we live in this detestation?
Why can’t we live in peace?
Why is there all this devastation?
Or is that just a caprice?”

“Run from here my child
And find a life elsewhere
We want our country reconciled
But it’s more than we can dare”

“Take my love and run from here
To a land where you won’t have to hide
Where you can live without fear
I will always be by your side”


“I’ll go Mama, I’ll go away
But what about Papa and you
Why do you have to stay?
Why can’t you come to”?

“My child we are tired and aged
We can face what is in store
Outside the battle raged
As the girl walked to the door”

She turned one last time
To look back at her home
She heard the church bell chime
You’ll be Croatian, wherever you roam

© Tony Channing 2002