When the First Bullet Flies
Sheldon D. Liber © 2026
When the first bullet flies
And the shooting begins
The first casualty of war
Is what's buried within
Every voice on the airwaves
Says their story is proof
But when the guns start talking
Who really knows what's true
Even in peacetime
Politicians lie
So when the fighting starts
Facts are the first to die
And every side will tell you
Their cause must be right
But honesty disappears
Somewhere between day and night
Chorus
You can start a war
But you don’t know when it will end
You can make believe
When it’s all just pretend
Going down a dangerous path
With the best of intentions
Finding out later
There was something they forgot to mention
It’s always about power
Who gets to decide
Who writes the history
And who must fall in line
Every leader will promise
It’s for the best
Speaking with certainty
But it’s only a guess
The fighting goes on
And there is no end in sight
Everyone claiming
Their side must be right
And somewhere in the shouting
And the anger and fear
The truth grows quieter
Each passing year
Chorus
You can start a war
But you don’t know when it will end
You can make believe
When it’s all just pretend
Going down a dangerous path
With the best of intentions
Finding out later
There was something they forgot to mention
Neighbor’s son came home in a box
A war hero with medals of gold
His mother’s heart broke forever
Now her tears will never grow old
The flag was folded carefully
Words were softly said
But nothing brings back
The living from the dead
Ships lost at sea
Planes shot out of the air
Mothers listening to the names
How much can families bear
Final Chorus
You can start a war
But you don’t know when it will end
They can make believe
When it’s all just pretend
Going down a dangerous path
With the best of intentions
Finding out later
There was something they forgot to mention
When the first bullet flies
The first casualty is the truth