At the End of a Pointed Gun

Lyrics by William Laskin Traditional melody to "Erev Shel Shoshanim"

I've laboured through two world wars An old war that still fights on I'll dare any man says I've not worked This land that I stand upon A homeland both free and strong To harbour my only son I hoped he'd never see as I The end of a pointed gun

Chorus:

My nation and my son, my nation and my son One found its birth, one found his death At the end of a pointed gun

Oh praised be Olympiad Was echoed the whole world round Nation to nation unified On one chosen stretch of ground Oh proud were the boys as mine To play for their own country I wish to God he'd never gone But stayed with his family

Chorus

The games scarcely had begun When out of each winner's joy Bloodshed rose unexpectedly Eleven dead and one my boy How does a father mourn His murdered hopes and dreams? How on this earth can he escape The agonies he has seen?

Chorus

I've laboured through two world wars An old war that still fights on I'll dare any man says I've not worked This land my boy rests upon

Chorus