Both Sides of the Story

Find yourself in the gutter
In a lonely part of town
Where death waits in the darkness with a weapon
To cut some stranger down

Sleeping with an empty bottle
He's a sad and an empty-hearted man
All he needs is a job and a little respect
So he can get out while he can

We always need to hear both sides of the story
Both sides of the story

A neighborhood peace is shattered
It's the middle of the night
Young faces hide in the shadows
While they watch their mother and father fight

He says she's been unfaithful
She says her love for him has gone
And the brother shrugs to his sister and says
"Looks like it's just us from now on"

All we always need to hear both sides of the story
We need to hear both sides of the story

And the lights are all on, the world is watching now
People looking for truth, we must not fail them now
Be sure, before we close our eyes, don't walk away from here
'Til you hear both sides, no-no-no

Here we are all gathered
In what seems to be the center of the storm
Neighbors once friendly now stand each side
Of the line that has been drawn
They've been fightin' here for years
But now there's killin' on the streets
While small coffins are lined up sadly
Now united in defeat

All we always need to hear both sides of the story

And the lights are all on, the world is watching now
People looking for truth, we must not fail them now
Be sure, before we close our eyes, don't walk away from here
'Til you see both sides, no, no, no, no, no, no

White man turns the corner
Finds himself within a different world
Ghetto kid grabs his shoulder
Throws him up against the wall
He says, "Would you respect me
If I didn't have this gun?
'Cause without it, I don't get it
And that's why I carry one"

We always need to hear both sides of the story
Both sides of the story
Oh, both sides of the story
Yes, both sides of the story
Oh, both sides of the story
Both sides of the story
Both sides of the story
Both sides, both sides of the story

Both sides of the story
Both sides of the story, yeah-yeah
Both sides of the story
Both side, both sides of the story
Both sides of the story
Both sides of the story
Both sides of the story
Must hear both sides of the story