There was a girl I used to know
She was oh so beautiful
But she's not here anymore
She had a college degree
Smart as anyone could be

She had so much to live for
But she fell in love
With the wrong kinda man
He abused her love and treated her so bad
There was not enough education in her world
That could save the life of this little girl

How come, how long?
It's not right, it's so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on

Wake up, for it's too late
Right now, we can't wait
She won't have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes

She tried to give a cry for help
She even blamed things on herself
But no one came to her aid
Nothing was wrong as far as we could tell
That's what we'd like to tell ourselves

But no, it wasn't that way
So she fell in love
With the wrong kinda man
And she paid with her life

For loving that man
So we cannot ignore
We must look for the signs
And maybe next time we might save
Somebody's life

How come, how long?
It's not right, it's so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on

Wake up, for it's too late
Right now, we can't wait
She won't have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes

I on occasion met that guy
It's been a feeling deep inside
Some wasn't right
The way he proves himself a man
By beating his woman with his hands
Oh, I wish that she'd seen the light
How can someone like that call himself a man?

He's not a man
Soon reality
And we cannot ignore
Whenever we see the signs
'Cause any kind of abuse
God knows, it's a crime

How come, how long?
It's not right, it's so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on

Wake up, for it's too late
Right now, we can't wait
She won't have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes