Wasn't That a Time

Our fathers bled at Valley Forge.

The snow was red with blood,

Their faith was warm at Valley Forge,

Their faith was brotherhood.

[Chorus:]

Wasn't that a time, wasn't that a time,

A time to try the soul of man,

Wasn't that a terrible time?

Brave men who died at Gettysburg

Now lie in soldier's graves,

But there they stemmed the slavery tide,

And there the faith was saved.

[Chorus]

The fascists came with chains and war

To prison us in hate.

And many a good man fought and died

To save the stricken faith.

[Chorus]

And now again the madmen come,

And should our vic'try fail?

There is no vic'try in a land

Where free men go to jail.

Isn't this a time!

Isn't this a time!

A time to try the soul of man,

Isn't this a terrible time?

Our faith cries out we have no fear

We dare to reach our hand

To other neighbors far and near

To friends in every land.

Isn't this a time!

Isn't this a time!

A time to free the soul of man!

Isn't this a wonderful time!

[Two additional verses written by Lee Hays and sung at the 1980 Weavers reunion:]

How many times we've gone to kill

In freedom's holy name.

And children died to save the pride

Of rulers without shame.

Informers took their Judas pay

To tell their sorry tale

And gangs in Congress had their way

And free souls went to jail