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[Verse 1]

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He was beaten as a child
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It never made no sense
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Now in turn he beats his wife and kids
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Verse 2]

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She was abused when she was young
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Now most of her feelings are gone
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The anger inside her was recompense
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Verse 3]

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The accused cut up a whore
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But he in turn was beaten before
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See what life's spiteful treadmill can dispense
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Verse 4]

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A new teenage gang tries to take over town
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Someone, somewhere gets hit, gunned down
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Build attention, feel the suspense
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Bridge]

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You'll love the users of careless words
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Puts you down, makes you feel absurd
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Feel the hatred, feeling the silence
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   It's the cycle of violence

[Solo]

E5 E5 E5 B5 B5 E5 x3
A5 A5 A5 B5 B5 E5

[Verse 5]

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Now she's got a black eye
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   A split lip and a broken arm
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She tells her friends it was an accident
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Verse 6]

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The political arena, it's all changed round
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Yesterday's leaders now buried underground
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Waves of oppression from your new government
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Verse 7]

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The lessons of history are always ignored
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Right now someone's sharpening a sword
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Soon they too are gone, that is permanent
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  Said the cycle of violence

[Solo 2]

E5 E5 E5 B5 B5 E5 x3
A5 A5 A5 B5 B5 E5

[Verse 8]

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An eastbound clash, the mass shot down
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While the peace talks go another round
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Religion, politics, vengeance
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Verse 9]

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Ain't you glad the world's run this way
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Where "dog eats dog" still holds sway
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Come and join in, it makes perfect sense
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  It's the cycle of violence

[Solo 3]

E5 E5 E5 B5 B5 E5 x3
A5 A5      A5       B5 B5 E5
  It's the cycle of violence