©1969 by Gordon Lightfoot
Down the hall their voices ring
Their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky
Together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue
They're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside
But they'll not laugh again
All the games are ended now
Their voices have been stilled
Their fathers built the tools of war
By which they all were killed
Their mothers made the uniforms
Showing which side they were on
And the young boys were the middle men
For the guns to prey upon
You've seen the fires in the night
Watched the devil as he smiles
You've heard a mother's mournful cry
As she searches for her child
You've seen the lines of refugees
The faces of despair
And wondered at the wise men
Who never seem to care
Goodbye you lost children
God speed you on your way
Your little beds are empty now
Your toys are put away
Your mother sings a lullaby
As she gazes at the floor
Your father builds more weapons
And marches out once more
Down the hall their voices ring
Their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky
Together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue
They're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside
But they'll not laugh again
Down the hall their voices ring
Their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky
Together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue
They're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside
But they'll not laugh again
All the games are ended now
Their voices have been stilled
Their fathers built the tools of war
By which they all were killed
Their mothers made the uniforms
Showing which side they were on
And the young boys were the middle men
For the guns to prey upon
You've seen the fires in the night
Watched the devil as he smiles
You've heard a mother's mournful cry
As she searches for her child
You've seen the lines of refugees
The faces of despair
And wondered at the wise men
Who never seem to care
Goodbye you lost children
God speed you on your way
Your little beds are empty now
Your toys are put away
Your mother sings a lullaby
As she gazes at the floor
Your father builds more weapons
And marches out once more
Down the hall their voices ring
Their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky
Together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue
They're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside
But they'll not laugh again