To preach of peace and brotherhood Oh, what might be the cost! A man he did it long ago And they hung him on a cross Long ago, far away Those things don’t happen nowadays The chains of slaves they dragged the ground With heads and hearts hung low But it was during Lincoln’s time And it was long ago Long ago, far away Those things like that don’t happen No more, nowadays, do they The war guns they bombed and blazed The whole world bled its blood Men’s bodies rotted on the ground As their graves were made in mud Long ago, far away Those kind of things don’t happen No more, nowadays One man had much money One man had not enough to eat One man he lived just like a king The other man begged on the street Long ago, far away Things like that don’t happen No more, nowadays One man died of a knife so sharp One man died from the bullet of a gun One man died of a broken heart To see the lynching’ of his son Long ago, far away Things like that don’t happen No more, nowadays Gladiators killed themselves It was during the Roman times People cheered with bloodshot grins As eyes and minds went blind Long ago, far away Things like that don't happen No more, nowadays And the talk of peace and brotherhood Oh, what might be the cost Man he did it long ago, and hung him on a cross Long ago, far away Things like that don't happen No more, nowadays, do they