These are the lyrics I learned from my mom...

~
Once there were trees and a river
Once there was grass where you stand
Once there were songs about rights instead of wrongs
Once was the time of man.

We didn't know in the old times
The Earth and the sea were to share
We didn't know in the old times...
Or care.

We heard the humming like thunder
We saw the clouds rise at dawn
Then came the rain and watched and prayed in vain
And then all was still, all was gone.

-chorus-

Grass doesn't grow on the hillside
Trees shrink and die in the sun
Nowhere to hide my sweet little baby's eyes
From the damage the dead have done.

-chorus-
~

I noticed that none of you had the first bit about 'not knowing in the old days', aka before the war...