[Verse] One day shots rang across the peaceful valley God was crying tears that fell like rain Before the railroad came from Kansas City And the bullets hit the bison from the train First shots rang across the peaceful valley And the white man laid his foot upon the plain The wagon train rolled through the dusty canyon The settlers full of wonder as they crossed A gentle creek where two old oaks were standing Before the west was won there was a cost A rain of fire came down upon the wagons A mother screamed and every soul was lost Change hit the country like a thunderstorm Ancient rivers soon began to boil People rushed like water to California At first they came for gold and then for oil Fortunes were made and lost in lifetimes Mother earth took poison in her soil An Electra Cruiser coasted towards the exit And turned on Peaceful Valley Boulevard "People make the difference" read a billboard Above a long line of idling cars Who'll be the one to lead this world Who'll be the beacon in the night Who'll be the one to lead this world Who'll be the beacon in the night Who'll be the one to lead the nations And protect God's creations A polar bear was drifting on an ice floe Sun beating down from the sky Politicians gathered for a summit And came away with nothing to decide Storms thundered on, his tears of falling rain A child was born and wondered why
https://primoaccordo.net/neil-young/peaceful-valley-boulevard.htm