The Crow on the Cradle
Jackson Browne/David Lindley Lyrics

The sheep's in the meadow
The peaceful scene of nature is disrupted by the arrival of a new life.

The cow's in the corn
Animals are going about their business, unaware of the gravity of the situation.

Now is the time for a child to be born
Despite the chaotic world, babies will continue to be born and grow up.

He'll laugh at the moon
The child will experience pure joy and wonder at the world around him.

And cry for the sun
But he will also face pain and sadness from the harsh realities of life.

And if it's a boy he'll carry a gun
Society will expect the child to adopt certain gender roles, including the potential use of violence.

Sang the crow on the cradle
The crow represents the ominous presence of the future, hovering over the child's innocent beginnings.

And if it should be that this baby's a girl
Girls face different societal expectations and limitations than boys do.

Never you mind if her hair doesn't curl
She will be judged and scrutinized for her appearance, but it is ultimately a superficial concern.

With rings on her fingers
Despite societal pressures, a girl can still dream of material possessions and romantic gestures.

And bells on her toes
She can still be whimsical and carefree, even in a world that will try to crush her spirit.

And a bomber above her wherever she goes
A girl can never fully escape the dangers of the world, from the threat of war to the threat of violence in her own community.

The crow on the cradle
The ominous crow remains, reminding everyone of the uncertain future ahead.

The black and the white
The issues we face are not just about skin color, but about society's systemic injustices and violence.

Somebody's baby is born for a fight
Even an innocent baby is born into a world of conflict and struggle.

Somebody's baby is not coming back
The harsh realities of the world mean that not all children will survive, no matter how innocent they are.

Your mother and father will sweat and they'll save
Parents will do everything they can to protect their child, but there are some things they cannot control or avoid.

To build you a coffin and dig you a grave
One day, the child will grow old and die, no matter how hard anyone tries to prevent it.

Hush-a-bye little one, never you weep
Despite these harsh truths, the child can find comfort and safety in the arms of his loved ones.

For we've got a toy that can put you to sleep
There are ways we can escape the pain of reality, but they are only temporary solutions in the face of a complex world.

Bring me my gun, and I'll shoot that bird dead
The fear and uncertainty of the future can turn to anger and violence.

That's what your mother and father once said
Even the most loving parents can succumb to these emotions.

The crow on the cradle, what can we do
What can we do to protect our children from the dangers of the world?

Ah, this is a thing that I'll leave up to you
The answer to that question is left up to each individual and society as a whole.

Sang the crow on the cradle
The crow keeps singing, a reminder that the future is always uncertain and that the innocence we lose can never be regained.