Iris DeMent - There's A Wall In Washington Lyrics






There's a wall in Washington
And it's made of cold black granite
They say 60,000 names are etched there in it
In that wall in Washington

A father, he traveled from far away
To walk the path till he finds that name
He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
The tears they fall as his memories gather
For the boy who filled his heart with pride
Is now but a name that's been etched
In the side of this wall in Washington

A mother she traveled from far away
To walk the path till she finds that name
She reaches her hand up and traces each letter
The tears they fall as her memories gather
She feels the baby at her breast
But her heart it breaks because all that is left
Is this wall in Washington

A boy, he traveled from far away
To walk the path till he finds that name
He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
He stares at the name of his unknown father
His heart is young and it's filled with pain
In anger he cries out

"Who is to blame for this wall in Washington
That's made of cold black granite?
Why is my father's name etched here in it
In this wall in Washington?"





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Iris DeMent There's A Wall In Washington Comments
  1. C.... ....

    Does the success or failure of an effort determine the merits of that effort. A wall with the names of
    those who lost their lives to put an end to the spread of Nazism would be six times as large. Was their
    sacrifice a waste? These young people (my generation) died trying to stop the spread Communism.
    Was their sacrifice a waste? Trying to make the government a scapegoat for our moral failure, in
    trying to make war a solution won't wash.

    C.... ....

    as a canadian and a ex royal navy guy at 70 yrs old ,,i think the soldiers whos names are on this wall .would have been very sad ,of the homecoming slurs and general dislike of those who they served with ..these boys were drafted ..i hear every time ,,thank you for you service,, is overheard by a nam vet must just piss them off ...it takes alot of courage ,to go fight a war ,that you didnt believe in ,,now some are homeless old men ,living on the streets ,and that is a disgrace .in the states britain and canada ...our canadian goverment have no interest in our miletary ,,our PM,doesnt even show up on rememberance day ,gives billions away and vets fight for justice in courts ,,to all veterans of all wars ,you deserve respect and help from the very people who sent you to war ,,bush and blaire ,chaney and rumsfeld ,,,got fat from the swet and blood on your backs ,now our so called leaders are inviting trouble into our coutries again ,,civilians are the new target ,and we all know where thats going ,,all we want is peace,,,,but if it has to be war,, ,let it be in my time ,,,not my childrens ,,,,and the way things are going

  2. R.... m....

    what a song, this wall are the footing of our country, but a lot of people don't understand it

  3. J.... S....

    Memorial Day exclusively honors the Nation's war dead. No one else. Those who served are honored on Veteran's Day in November. The two holidays are not one & the same.

    J.... S....

    Yes, I know.

  4. B.... M....

    I've seen my dad cry three times in my entire life. One of those times was when we took his cousin to Arlington to be laid to rest and made a stop at the wall. He did three voluntary tours as a front line medic and lost more than I think even he remembers.

  5. T.... d....

    My girls dad Marine SGT Kenneth Glaze. Who died in 1966 in Vietnam is up that wall, till today is never easy for families who lost there love ones to war .

  6. J.... C....

    Watch out dick head is going to try to do it again!!

  7. M.... G....

    For we who can't hear anymore...
    There's a wall in Washington
    and it's made of cold black granite
    They say 60, 000 names are etched there in it
    in that wall in Washington

    A father, he traveled from far away
    to walk the path 'til he finds that name
    He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
    The tears they fall as his memories gather
    for the boy who filled his heart with pride
    is now but a name that's been etched
    in the side of this wall in Washington

    A mother she traveled from far away
    to walk the path 'til she finds that name
    She reaches her hand up and traces each letter
    The tears they fall as her memories gather
    She feels the baby at her breast
    but her heart it breaks because all that is left
    is this wall in Washington

    A boy, he traveled from far away
    to walk the path 'til he finds that name
    He reaches his hand up and traces each letter
    He stares at the name of his unknown father
    His heart is young and it's filled with pain
    in anger he cries out

    "Who is to blame for this wall in Washington
    that's made of cold black granite?
    Why is my father's name etched here in it
    in this wall in Washington?"

    Hope I got the WHOLE thing....

  8. w.... p....

    It brings up a lot, doesn’t it?

  9. G.... S....

    Mike Wilson, Tony Flores, E.J Noe, was back there last night, dream lasted so long, woke in a drenching sweat.. Damn I am 67 now, we were all 19 and 20 then,,, man, its been a long time since that night long ago. My guilt is still so damn hard to endure, I ame home and you didn't. They had a PBS special drilling down on the Hill 875 event,,, I guess that was what has brought it all back again.....I guess it will all go away when I die! Semper Fi !!

  10. b.... h....

    NOT IN MY NAME!

  11. J.... C....

    So looks like Trump would like to start a new one . Let's hope that doesn't happen. Iris will have something to say about that

    J.... C....

    So in response to the heartfelt song about the men who died fighting communist butchers in Vietnam, all you can do is make an asinine comment about the president?

  12. J.... C....

    As we all know. No war can ever be won. Best we stop fighting them. Much love to the fallen

    J.... C....

    “Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.”
    ― Robert A. Heinlein

  13. M.... ....

    I have never been to D.C. but when the smaller traveling wall came to my home State, I went to see it. The day before there was a ceremony with the Governor and other speakers, but when I went it was a cold rainy day. I was the only one walking from right to left, but I could see two men walking towards me from the other direction. I spent my Viet Nam time aboard ship, so I did not experience the up close war. I spent a lot of nights watching our five inch shells hurling into the jungle though, and wondered about who they were falling on.

    When I met the two men near the middle of the wall, we spoke for a brief time. One of them had served in the army. By chance we had stopped near the name of his Sergeant, and he spoke of him briefly.

    We parted, and then I heard him call me back. "Just a second", He reached out his hand and said "Welcome home brother". It was the first time someone other than family said that to me.

  14. c.... ....

    i have friends on that wall 14 aircrew christmas 1973 laos

  15. R.... U....

    French Indo China- we were taught.

  16. l.... t....

    Good song

  17. A.... D....

    To most they are just names on a black granite wall, to me those name represent those that believed their government and the lies that government told them and the price of a absolute belief in a government. They loved their country so much they wasted their lives for it, now they are nothing but a name on a wall. I served, 173rd ABN, lost many friends, their faces appear in their last moments of life, as burn my soul with survivor guilt! Please no "thanks for your service". We invaded another mans land and that man did what we would do, defend his homeland!

    A.... D....

    Those drafted with little or no choice, barely more than children. Iris brings it strong.

    A.... D....

    their wasted words have slaughtered herds. herds that were born to roam free.

    A.... D....

    I must tell you that i am not american, living nearly 50 years in communist world. I think that the problem is more complex than many people see. Without american power, all Europe and Asia would be controlled by persons like Hitler, Stalin, Korean and other dictators. What do you mean Korea would look like without american and allied forces in early 50´s? No happy, succesfull people, no Samsung or Hyunday. Only communist powerty, like on the north Korea! Try to make the situation better in your country.I understand, not all is ok in american politics. (it´s valid for Europe as well). You have still livin´ in country with free elections. You can´t find somethin´ better than democracy I think. Please believe me, see my first sentence. But thanks american and other soldiers for laying their lives. Even in my country we have some victims. And thanks Iris DeMent and other folk and country singers for such music and also the lyrics!

    A.... D....

    The ARVN were defending their land from the communist north. After the communist victory in 1975, not during the war (let that sink in), the Le Duan regime murdered 280,000 South Vietnamese. And yes, I was there, too.

    A.... D....

    Al Davis We need all the names on The Wall. Six or eight million names are missing. That land we invaded is not even on the wall, let us finish the wall. Maybe our country would heal....

  18. W.... H....

    China is to blame.

    W.... H....

    +Woodsy Howell  Why?

    W.... H....

    +robert kelly Don't feed the trolls....."A mother she traveled from far away
    to walk the path 'til she finds that name
    She reaches her hand up and traces each letter
    The tears they fall as her memories gather
    She feels the baby at her breast
    but her heart it breaks because all that is left
    is this wall in Washington"

    W.... H....

    No France is to blame .

  19. 4.... h....

    after trying over an over again I made it up to the wall found the name of my best friend,I touch touched the wall; I Miss Paul,Ricky,an Burt, all have gone why not me I miss all of you more than words can say;; 

    4.... h....

    That brought tears to my eyes David..

    4.... h....

    I do miss the men after all these years;it was just yesterday;;thanks you; david

    4.... h....

    Happy vet's Day to day we all cru together an we are Brothers no matter what; My GOD bless each one an be at peace;;

    4.... h....

    I know six names on that wall of guys I grew up & went to school with. Three who aren't were guys I knew who came home, couldn't adjust & took their own lives. My father flew C-130s there (his third war) and came home on a stretcher but alive. To all who served there, a grateful Nation thanks you.

  20. L.... T....

    The whole album was such a magnificent work !

  21. 1.... ....

    Antonio.....Thank you ,I just received this from another Brother in Arms...couldn't help but look for the names of my fallen comrades on E2....hell, every time I look I find myself looking for them and mine too...........some will understand....been there twice, have a hat in the Smithsonian in the Viet Nam display...Thank you son............

  22. a.... s....

    It brings me joy if you found some comfort with my video. Thank you so much for your service to our country. I'm a son of a career military man, 28 years.. He was in WWII and the Korean War.

  23. a.... s....

    Thanks!! It is an awesome song and very powerful.

  24. G.... J....

    Thank you very much for this wonderful video and song, Antonio. I am a Vietnam veteran and names of some of my comrades are etched on that wall.

  25. b.... ....

    Extraordinary video and very moving song, Antonio!. My husband is a Vietnam veteran. I can't wait to show him this video tomorrow. Thank you so much for this wonderful video. ~ Sandy

  26. a.... s....

    I agree! You are so welcome

    a.... s....

    I cry so much a few times when I was watching this video, its so powerfull as a song. I know a little abaout American history, but Im from Europa...I didnt no for this Wall in Washington...

  27. R.... C....

    THIS should be on the radio and other loops - fantastic....Thank You for helping me discover this woman!

  28. 5.... ....

    Just wonderful. Iris DeMent a new favorite of mine since only a few months back, wonderful voice and performances.

  29. a.... s....

    You're welcome. I love Iris and this song.

  30. R.... H....

    Thank you for posting this tragic and wonderful song.