A rag ball in a puddle
A cheeky smile, a kick
Running down the hill, a hoop
And the sky in a kid's eyes
A slingshot that shoots hope
A sparrow in shorts, sly
And the power of being a child
Against the force of a cop, who's a brute
They look like flocks of loose sparrows
They're like Indians, captains of the gang
And they hear him talk about the new man
They're the kids of this people
Learning to be men
Bottle caps shining in the hand
The urge that leaps to the axle
And a kid who says no
If a beating comes I won't allow it
A hidden marble at school
A top in a colorless pocket
And a kid who begs
'Cause hunger muffles his pain
They look like flocks of loose sparrows
They're like Indians, captains of the gang
And they hear him talk about the new man
They're the kids of this people
Learning to be men
And they hear him talk about the new man
They're the kids of this people
Learning to be men