Music by elton john Lyrics by bernie taupin Available on the album ice on fire I found a black beret on the street today It was lying in the gutter all torn There's a white flag flying on a tall building But the kids just watch the storm Their dirty faces pressed on the windows Shattered glass before their eyes There's a mad dog barking in a burned out subway Where the sniper sleeps at night No birthday songs to sing again Just bricks and stones to give them Wrap them up in your father's flags And let them cry to heaven There are many graves by a cold lake As the beds were when your babies are born And your rag doll sits with a permanent grin But the kids just watch the storm I saw a black cat tease a white mouse Until he killed it with his claws Seems a lot of countries do the same thing Before they go to war