[Intro: Jonny 5]

We request to negotiate

We come to you unarmed

We desire to communicate

You cannot do us harm

[Verse 1: Jonny 5, Brer Rabbit]

They want sacrifice

They have schemes and ask me to follow their path to the afterlife

I've got an appetite

For nice things and pipe dreams that my enemies could be blasted by

New metaphors

Views that are better for you can't survive or find your competitor

Rise together or fight separate wars

I pray I'm never forced to be a predator

Spectres spectate we won't last

They're glad to hate when gladiators breathe their last

Scream en masse when the dreams do clash

Like swords in the war, let me bleed on that

But they feed on that, say we need strong backs

Call us weak and don't redeem contracts

But the feast won't last when this beast attacks

The sons and the fathers will be free at last

[Pre-Chorus: Tim McIlrath, Jonny 5]

(This is love, this is not treason)

(This is love, it's not treason)

(This is love, it's not treason)

(This is love, it's not treason)

(This is love) They see sharks in the estuary

(It's not treason) They claim the ark is Bartholomew's

(This is love) They say war is necessary

(It's not treason) But we say war is child abuse

[Chorus: Tim McIlrath, Jonny 5]

We'd rather make our children (We request to negotiate)

Martyrs than murderers (We come to you unarmed)

We'd rather make our children (We desire to communicate)

White Flag Warriors (You cannot do us harm)

[Verse 2: Brer Rabbit, Jonny 5]

Core-to-core, we're the ones we've been waiting for

We hold steady, steadier than stevedores

Not tevias or matadors, on matters of what came before

Forgive the debts and settle scores

And test the mettle, either/or

What's your plan got to do with me?

If the bell tolls, let freedom ring

And find the new ways if we must be king

Instead of leading the young to our suffering, huh

We pass testaments down scream back at heavenFor testing us like Wednesday's at 11

Want to recruit and train us to act evilly

Save it for the shooting range, and smack DVDs

Won't study war no more this millennium

It's never again for me or anyone

So think harder when you refer to us

Rather make our children martyrs than murderers

[Pre-Chorus: Tim McIlrath, Jonny 5]

(This is love, this is not treason)

(This is love, it's not treason)

(This is love, it's not treason)

(This is love, it's not treason)

(This is love) They shell dwellings to quell the shillings

(This is not treason) And lift taboos to seduce the cowards

(This is love) They say we're too yellow bellied

(This is not treason) But we say we're the new superpower

[Chorus: Tim McIlrath, Jonny 5]

We'd rather make our children (We request to negotiate)

Martyrs than murderers (We come to you unarmed)

We'd rather make our children (We desire to communicate)

White Flag Warriors (You cannot do us harm)

[Bridge: Tim McIlrath, Jonny 5]

(This is love) We seek ways to not be liable

(This is not treason) We claim to speak for a higher truth

(This is love) We stand opposed to the homicidal

(This is not treason) We tell you you are fireproof

[Chorus: Tim McIlrath, Jonny 5]

We'd rather make our children (We request to negotiate)

Martyrs than murderers (We come to you unarmed)

We'd rather make our children (We desire to communicate)

White Flag Warriors (You cannot do us harm)

White Flag

Warriors

We'd rather make our children

We'd rather make our children

We'd rather make our children (Do what you want to our courage)

We'd rather make our children (Ask us what you will)

(Demand from us a sacrifice)

(But do not make us kill)