We took the highway till the road went black
We’d marked truth or consequences on our map
A voice drifted up from the radio
Some other voice from long ago

Who’ll be the last to die for a mistake?
The last to die for a mistake?
Whose blood will spill?
Whose heart will break?
Who’ll be the last to die for a mistake?

The kids asleep in the back seat
We’re just counting the miles, you and me
We don’t measure the blood we’ve drawn anymore
We just stack the bodies outside the door

Who’ll be the last to die for our mistakes?
The last to die for our mistakes?
Whose blood will spill?
Whose heart will break?
Who’ll be the last to die for our mistakes?

The sun it sets in flames as the city burns
Another day gone down as the evening turns
And I hold you here in my heart
as things fall apart

A downtown window flushed with light
and faces of the dead at five
I see her martyr’s silent eyes
petition the drivers as we pass by

Who’ll be the last to die for our mistakes?
The last to die for our mistakes?
Whose blood will spill?
Whose heart will break?
Who’ll be the last to die?
Who’ll be the last to die for our mistakes?
The last to die for our mistakes?
Tyrants and kings both meet the same fate
strung up at your city gate
Who’ll be the last to die for our mistakes?

Words and music: Bruce Springsteen
Reproduced by permission