Pete Seeger
The Flowers of Peace
Oh the summertime is coming
And the leaves are sweet returning
But those flowers of peace
It's for them I'm really yearning
Will they bloom, ever bloom?
Will they bloom in the springtime?
Oh you flowers of peace
When the world should be ringtime
Will ye bloom, ever bloom?
I built my love a bower by a clear, crystal river
But the thing her heart desires is a thing I cannot give her
Oh providеnce smiled impassive
Whilе I fell on bended knee
Said, the lives of you empires
Are no more than swarms of bees
If you and I would see those flowers
Get up and rouse your neighbors
When first the seed I'd planted
It takes long and careful labor
If you and I would see those flowers
Go out and till the fertile soil
It will take more than prayers
It takes hard and sweaty toil