D  Bm  D  Bm

[Chorus]
    D                 Bm
Oh Mother, oh Father, in our time of fear
G                         Bm
Grant us the wisdom, Your message for to hear
D                             Bm
Send down Your angel band to fill our hearts with power
    G                 Bm                  Bm/A
Oh Mother, oh Father, in our darkest hour

VERSE 1 (Emmylou Harris):
D                     D/F#  Bm
Ignorance is the enemy,     and it fills your head with lies
G                                                       Bm
It's the kind of bliss that can make you miss the very truth before your eyes
D                             D/F#              Bm
It's not who's right or wrong, weak or strong, black or white you see
G                       Bm                                 A
Ignorance is the enemy, and it's keeping you from me

[Chorus]
D                               Bm
Forgive me all my pettiness, forgive me all my grief
   G                              Bm                      Bm/A
Forgive me for I know not how to live this life I lead

VERSE 2 (John Prine):
D                      D/F#  Bm
Ignorance IS the enemy,     let's set the record straight
G                              Bm
If history must repeat itself, why worry while you wait
D                                       D/F#  Bm
It's a perfect blue and beautiful world,      you treat with such disdain
G                        Bm                             A
Ignorance is the enemy, and it can only bring ya pain

[Chorus]
D                            Bm
Forgive me all my vanity, forgive me my conceit
G                                   Bm                        D
Forgive me when I'm crawlin' like a beggar at your feet

VERSE 3 (Rodney Crowell):
D                      D/F# Bm
Ignorance is the enemy,     and it wields a mighty sword
G                                        Bm
It can cut you down in a blaze of glory, it can nail you to a board
D                                        D/F#  Bm
If mercy and compassion only had a chance,     it could fill these holes we've dug
G                          Bm                          A
But ignorance is the enemy, and it's workin' like a drug

[Chorus]
    D                 Bm
Oh Mother, oh Father, in our time of fear
G                         Bm
Grant us the wisdom, Your message for to hear
D                            Bm
Send down Your angel band to fill our hearts with power
   G                  Bm
Oh Mother, oh Father, in our darkest hour