Iris DeMent There's a wall in Washington (Iris DeMent) There's a wall in Washington and it's made of cold black granite They say 60,000 names are etched there in it in that wall in Washington A father, he traveled from far away to walk the path 'til he finds that name He reaches his hand up and traces each letter The tears they fall as his memories gather for the boy who filled his heart with pride is now but a name that's been etched in the side of this wall in Washington A mother she traveled from far away to walk the path 'til she finds that name She reaches her hand up and traces each letter The tears they fall as her memories gather She feels the baby at her breast but her heart it breaks because all that is left is this wall in Washington A boy, he traveled from far away to walk the path 'til he finds that name He reaches his hand up and traces each letter He stares at the name of his unknown father His heart is young and it's filled with pain in anger he cries out "Who is to blame for this wall in Washington that's made of cold black granite? Why is my father's name etched here in it in this wall in Washington?" (c) 1996 Songs of Iris ASCAP