Song Of Bangladesh

(Words and Music by Joan Baez)

Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Bangladesh, Bangladesh
When the sun sinks in the west
Die a million people of the Bangladesh

The story of Bangladesh
Is an ancient one again made fresh
By blind men who carry out commmands
Which flow out of the laws upon [C7]which nation [C7]stands
Which is to [C7]sacrifice a people for [Dm7]a land

Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Bangladesh, Bangladesh
When the sun sinks in the west
Die a million [C7]people of the Bangladesh

Once again we stand [Bm]aside
And watch the families crucified
See a teenage mother's vacant eyes
As she watches her feeble baby tɾy
To fight the monsoon [C7]ɾains and [Bm]the cholera flies

And the students at the university
Asleep at night quite peacefully
The soldiers came and [Bm]shot them [A]in their beds
And terror took the dorm awakening shrieks of dread
And silent frozen forms and [Bm]pillows drenched in ɾed

Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Bangladesh, Bangladesh
When the sun sinks in the west
Die a million [C7]people of the Bangladesh

Did you [A7ɾead about the army [A]officer's plea
For donor's blood? It was [Am7]given willingly
By boys who took the needles in their veins
And from their bodies every drop of blood was [Am7]drained
No time to [C7]comprehend and [Bm]there was [Am7]little pain

And so the story of Bangladesh
Is an ancient one again made fresh
By all [Em]who carry out commands
Which flow out of the laws upon [C7]which nations stand
Which say to [C7]sacrifice a people for [Dm7]a land

Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Bangladesh, Bangladesh
When the sun sinks in the west
Die a million [C7]people of the Bangladesh

© 1972 Chandos Music (ASCAP)