Lyrics

Dachau

The saddest photo I’ve ever seen was taken from behind the stage
Where a man in uniform is pounding his fist pointing and screaming with rage
The crowd, dressed in fine suits and ties and gowns with razor-sharp pleats
Are smiling at the man at the podium as he reads his list of decrees

They’re pleased at this river of violence
And that Jews must wear a six-pointed star
So they can be more easily identified
And packed into railroad cars
The crowd shines with admiration
For the man who will lead them to destruction
They must have had hearts of stone
It’s the saddest photo I’ve ever known

Couldn’t someone have stood up and cried “No! We don’t want this!”
Shouldn’t someone have said “It’s a lie” And stopped it right in its tracks
What would you have done if you were there in that audience
Would you have stood up and cheered? Or said later that you
were never there?

The saddest photo I’ve ever known Is there on the wall in Dachau
Where a man is thrusting his finger and demanding action now
It’s like any historic moment just before it’s too late
when the crowd doesn’t realize it could still change its fate
They could spare millions the disaster that awaits
But they told themselves he was great and cheered him on
It’s the saddest photo I’ve ever known