If I could kill a word and watch it die I'd poison never, shoot goodbye Beat regret when I felt I had the nerve Yeah, I'd pound fear to a pile of sand Choke lonely out with my bare hands I'd hang hate so that it can't be heard If I could only kill a word I'd take brokenness out back And break heartbreak, stand there and laugh Right in its face while shootin' it the bird I'd put upset down in its place I'd squeeze the life out of disgrace Lay over under six cold feet of dirt If I could only kill a word Give me sticks, give stones Bend my body, break my bones Use staff and rod to turn me black and blue 'Cause you can't unhear, you can't unsay But if were up to me to change I'd turn lies and hate to love and truth If I could only kill a word I'd knock out temptation's teeth I'd sever evil, let it bleed Then light up wicked, stand and watch it burn I'd take vice and I'd take vile And tie 'em up there with hostile Hang 'em high and leave 'em for the birds If I could only kill a word So give me sticks, give stones Bend my body, break my bones Use staff and rod to turn me black and blue 'Cause you can't unhear, you can't unsay But if were up to me to change I'd turn lies and hate to love and truth If I could only kill a word If I could only kill a word