Harvey Andrews –
Christy’s Version
The sun was hot and the air was heavy and the marching men came by
You stood at the door and you watched then pass you asked the reason why
The sound of steel on their Jackboot heel came pounding through your head
Your reason is past, they’ve come at last, with the blessings of the dead.
CHORUS
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy why are you the one?
All the years of growing up are wasted now and gone.
Did you see them turn did you feel the burn of the bullets as they flew?
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy just what did you do?
At the college square they were standing there with flag and with the gun
And the whispered words as the young ones stirred, why are these things done
And the air was still with the lonely thrill of now the hour is near
And the smell of sweat was better yet than the awful smell of fear.
CHORUS
The awful shout as you all ran out, why are these things done
And you stood and stared yet no one cared for another campus bum
Your songs are dead and your hymns instead are to the funeral pyre
And the words of youth, like love and truth are just ashes on the fire.
CHORUS
Did you throw the stone at the men alone with their bayonets fixed for hire?
Did you think that they would kill no one did you scream as they opened fire?
As the square ran red with your bloodstains spread and the darkness round you grew
Did you feel the pain did you call the name of the man that you never knew?
CHORUS
Original Version
CHORUS
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy why were you the one?
All the years of growing up are wasted now and gone.
Did you see them turn, did you feel the burn of the bullets as they flew?
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy just what did you do?
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy just what did you do?
Well the sun was hot and the air was heavy and the marching men came by
And you ran to the door and you watched then pass you asked the soldiers “Why?”
The sound of steel and the black boot’s heel was pounding in your head
And your freedom’s past, they’ve come at last, with the blessings of the dead.
In the college square they were standing there with flag and with the gun
And the whispered words as the young ones stirred, “Now at last they’ve come”
And the air was still with the lonely thrill of now the hour is near
And the smell of sweat was better yet than the awful stench of fear.
Through the air th shout as you all ran out was “Why are these things done?”
You stood and you stared but no one cared for another campus bum
And your songs were dead and your hymns instead were to the burning pyre
And the words of youth, like love and truth, just ashes in the fire.
Did you throw the stone at the men alone with their bayonets fixed for hire?
Did you doubt that they would, say no one could, did you scream when they opened fire?
As the square ran red with your bloodstains spread and the darkness round you grew
Through the fear and pain did you call the name of the man you never knew?
Reproduced with permission
I’m including both sets of lyrics: Christy’s version and the original version. The author, Harvey Andrews, wrote and sent on the original. He says;
“Here’s the correct lyric for “Hey Sandy”. Her name was Sandy Schuer and she was shot by the National Guard at Kent State University”