Moving War Songs
- Wombat
- Posts: 7105
- Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2002 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Location: Probably Evanston, possibly Wollongong
Moving War Songs
Recently I've been listening to 60s soul songs which have a social message. I began wondering what the most moving soul song about war is. All my top candidates are about drug addicted vets, at least in the soul bag. 'The Band played Waltzing Matilda' has the right credentials but isn't a soul song of course.
I thought my favourite was the little-known 'Can't You See What You Done Done' by Delia Gartrell. It's still my equal favourite performance. But equal to it, and an even better song, is 'Sam Stone' by Swamp Dogg. John Prine wrote the song and has recorded it but Dogg's performance blows his away. Anyway, for those who don't know the lyrics, here they are:
Sam Stone
©John Prine
Sam Stone came home,
To his wife and family
After serving in the conflict overseas.
And the time that he served,
Had shattered all his nerves,
And left a little shrapnel in his knee.
But the morphine eased the pain,
And the grass grew round his brain,
And gave him all the confidence he lacked,
With a Purple Heart and a monkey on his back.
Chorus:
There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes,
Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose.
Little pitchers have big ears,
Don't stop to count the years,
Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.
Mmm....
Sam Stone's welcome home
Didn't last too long.
He went to work when he'd spent his last dime
And Sammy took to stealing
When he got that empty feeling
For a hundred dollar habit without overtime.
And the gold rolled through his veins
Like a thousand railroad trains,
And eased his mind in the hours that he chose,
While the kids ran around wearin' other peoples' clothes...
Repeat Chorus:
Sam Stone was alone
When he popped his last balloon
Climbing walls while sitting in a chair
Well, he played his last request
While the room smelled just like death
With an overdose hovering in the air
But life had lost its fun
And there was nothing to be done
But trade his house that he bought on the G. I. Bill
For a flag draped casket on a local heroes' hill.
Repeat Chorus
Can anybody think of a song about war that equals or tops this one?
I thought my favourite was the little-known 'Can't You See What You Done Done' by Delia Gartrell. It's still my equal favourite performance. But equal to it, and an even better song, is 'Sam Stone' by Swamp Dogg. John Prine wrote the song and has recorded it but Dogg's performance blows his away. Anyway, for those who don't know the lyrics, here they are:
Sam Stone
©John Prine
Sam Stone came home,
To his wife and family
After serving in the conflict overseas.
And the time that he served,
Had shattered all his nerves,
And left a little shrapnel in his knee.
But the morphine eased the pain,
And the grass grew round his brain,
And gave him all the confidence he lacked,
With a Purple Heart and a monkey on his back.
Chorus:
There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes,
Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose.
Little pitchers have big ears,
Don't stop to count the years,
Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.
Mmm....
Sam Stone's welcome home
Didn't last too long.
He went to work when he'd spent his last dime
And Sammy took to stealing
When he got that empty feeling
For a hundred dollar habit without overtime.
And the gold rolled through his veins
Like a thousand railroad trains,
And eased his mind in the hours that he chose,
While the kids ran around wearin' other peoples' clothes...
Repeat Chorus:
Sam Stone was alone
When he popped his last balloon
Climbing walls while sitting in a chair
Well, he played his last request
While the room smelled just like death
With an overdose hovering in the air
But life had lost its fun
And there was nothing to be done
But trade his house that he bought on the G. I. Bill
For a flag draped casket on a local heroes' hill.
Repeat Chorus
Can anybody think of a song about war that equals or tops this one?
- Flyingcursor
- Posts: 6573
- Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2002 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: This is the first sentence. This is the second of the recommended sentences intended to thwart spam its. This is a third, bonus sentence!
- Location: Portsmouth, VA1, "the States"
Does it have to be soul?
Great song, Sam Stone.
Great song, Sam Stone.
Last edited by Flyingcursor on Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm no longer trying a new posting paradigm
- missy
- Posts: 5833
- Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2003 7:46 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Contact:
before I got to the end of your post, I was gonna say "Sam Stone".
Of course, with Nate IN the Navy now, even "Anchor's Away" gets to me!
One of the songs I can't listen to without getting teary eyed is "Christmas in the Trenches" by John McCutcheon.
Christmas in the Trenches
by John McCutcheon
My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore
My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same
Of course, with Nate IN the Navy now, even "Anchor's Away" gets to me!
One of the songs I can't listen to without getting teary eyed is "Christmas in the Trenches" by John McCutcheon.
Christmas in the Trenches
by John McCutcheon
My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore
My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same
-
- Posts: 15580
- Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: somewhere, over the rainbow, and Ergoville, USA
"Soul" is a rather fluid definition, I think.Flyingcursor wrote:Does it have to be soul?
Here're the lyrics to the songs I mentioned:
Paddy's Lament (traditional, sung by Sinéad O'Connor)
DIXIE CHICKS - Travelin' SoldierWell it's by the hush, me boys, and sure that's to mind your noise
And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration
I was by hunger stressed, and in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation
Well I sold me horse and cow, my little pigs and sow
Me father's farm of land I soon departed
And me sweetheart Bid McGee, I'm afraid I'll never see
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted
Hear ye boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have ye's not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin
Well meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er
Our fortunes to be making we were thinkin'
When we got to Yankee land, they put guns into our hands
Saying "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln"
Hear ye boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have YOUSE not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin
General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your Head
Every MOTHER'S SON of youse will get a pension
Well in the war I lost me leg, AND ALL I'VE NOW'S A WOODEN PEG
And by me soul it is the truth to you I mention
Hear ye boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have YOUSE not be coming
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin
Well I think meself in luck, if I get fed on Indianbuck
And old Ireland is the country I delight in
To the devil, I would say, God curse Americay
For the truth I've had enough of their hard fightin
Hear ye boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have youse not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin
I wish I was at home
I wish I was at home
I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin
Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she gives him a smile
And he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talking to me,
I'm feeling a little low
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go
So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you
Chorus: I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Over love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter said
A soldier's coming home
So the letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for awhile
[Chorus]
One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the Anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your heads
For a list of local Vietnam dead
Crying all alone under the stands
Was a piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read and nobody really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair
- Darwin
- Posts: 2719
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:38 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Flower Mound, TX
- Contact:
There are a number of folk/folk-like war songs (with words) on page three of the Most tragic/depressing songs thread.
Two Soldiers
Atlanta is Burning
Greycoat Solders
Shiloh Hill
Christmas in the Trenches
Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye
I find them all touching, but wouldn't know how to compare them in terms of one equaling or topping another.
Two Soldiers
Atlanta is Burning
Greycoat Solders
Shiloh Hill
Christmas in the Trenches
Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye
I find them all touching, but wouldn't know how to compare them in terms of one equaling or topping another.
Mike Wright
"When an idea is wanting, a word can always be found to take its place."
--Goethe
"When an idea is wanting, a word can always be found to take its place."
--Goethe
- dubhlinn
- Posts: 6746
- Joined: Sun May 23, 2004 2:04 pm
- antispam: No
- Location: North Lincolnshire, UK.
Mmmm...Sam it is.
Even dylan,in all his glory,would have been proud of that one.
A great song cast in a great shadow...
Let us not debate the soul of those who had the misfortune to live and create..in the heavy shadow that Bob cast on the landscape.
John Prine was in the wrong place at the wrong time..a modern tragedy.
Then there was Bob.Everyone else is history.
Slan,
D.
Even dylan,in all his glory,would have been proud of that one.
A great song cast in a great shadow...
Let us not debate the soul of those who had the misfortune to live and create..in the heavy shadow that Bob cast on the landscape.
John Prine was in the wrong place at the wrong time..a modern tragedy.
Then there was Bob.Everyone else is history.
Slan,
D.
And many a poor man that has roved,
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.
W.B.Yeats
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.
W.B.Yeats
- Darwin
- Posts: 2719
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:38 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Flower Mound, TX
- Contact:
I dunno. I still see John performing on TV occasionally--mostly Austin City Limits, but other venues from time to time. It's been a few years since I last saw Bobby Z. in a more-or-less-current performance.dubhlinn wrote:John Prine was in the wrong place at the wrong time..a modern tragedy.
Then there was Bob.Everyone else is history.
Slan,
D.
Mike Wright
"When an idea is wanting, a word can always be found to take its place."
--Goethe
"When an idea is wanting, a word can always be found to take its place."
--Goethe
- s1m0n
- Posts: 10069
- Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:17 am
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 10
- Location: The Inside Passage
I almost posted this a month or so ago, when I saw a news item reporting that Australia's last ww1 veteran had died.
Twenty or more years ago, Eric Bogle foresaw the day:
Twenty or more years ago, Eric Bogle foresaw the day:
I see the old men all twisted and torn
The forgotten heroes of a forgotten war
And the young people ask me "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
Year after year, those old men disappear
Soon no one will march there at all
And now there was no doubt that the trees were really moving - moving in and out through one another as if in a complicated country dance. ('And I suppose,' thought Lucy, 'when trees dance, it must be a very, very country dance indeed.')
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
- rebl_rn
- Posts: 810
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2001 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Location: Southeastern Wisconsin
- Contact:
This is a song written in the '60's. The inspiration was the book "Co. Aytch" by Sam Watkins, who was a "high private" in Co. H (The Maury Grays), 1st Tennessee Regiment, CSA. The call of the whipporwill in the early morning was regarded as an evil omen in some Native American cultures.
"Kennesaw Line"
lyrics by Don Oja Dunaway
I am but a simple man, I got no command of the written word
I can only try to tell you all the things I've seen and heard
So listen to the picture forever etched on my mind
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The sun rose high above us that morning on a clear and cloudless day
A peckerwood taps on a tree, he'll soon be shot away
The heat blistered down through the leaves on the trees
The air seemed hot enough to catch fire
The heavens seemed to be made of brass
As the sun rose higher and higher
Everything got real still and quiet, my old mess mate, Walter Hood
He said, "Sam, I believe them Yanks down there are up to something
And I know it ain't no damn good"
Well the storm broke and it swept down on us
It rumbled through the hills
Walter sighed then he dropped his rifle
He said somethin' to me about a whippoorwill
He said, "Sammy, can't you hear 'em singing
Singing for you and me
And all the Maury Grays, Lord
Carry me back to Tennessee
God bless the First and the Twenty-seventh
And The Grand Rock City Guard
Nobody ever told me dying would be so hard
"Sam, I think I've been hurt real bad, ain't this one hell of a day
You'd better go and leave me now, I think I need some time to pray
You know how bad I've been wantin' to go home,
But I couldn't see rightly how,
Old Colonel Field ain't gonna to have no choice this time,
I think I'll get my furlough now.
And don't you tell me that you can't hear them,
Singing for you and me
And all the Maury Grays, Lord
Carry me back to Tennessee, Tennessee"
I told you I'm a simple man, I got no command of the written word
I can only try to tell you all the things I've seen and heard
So listen to the picture forever etched on my mind
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
"Kennesaw Line"
lyrics by Don Oja Dunaway
I am but a simple man, I got no command of the written word
I can only try to tell you all the things I've seen and heard
So listen to the picture forever etched on my mind
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The sun rose high above us that morning on a clear and cloudless day
A peckerwood taps on a tree, he'll soon be shot away
The heat blistered down through the leaves on the trees
The air seemed hot enough to catch fire
The heavens seemed to be made of brass
As the sun rose higher and higher
Everything got real still and quiet, my old mess mate, Walter Hood
He said, "Sam, I believe them Yanks down there are up to something
And I know it ain't no damn good"
Well the storm broke and it swept down on us
It rumbled through the hills
Walter sighed then he dropped his rifle
He said somethin' to me about a whippoorwill
He said, "Sammy, can't you hear 'em singing
Singing for you and me
And all the Maury Grays, Lord
Carry me back to Tennessee
God bless the First and the Twenty-seventh
And The Grand Rock City Guard
Nobody ever told me dying would be so hard
"Sam, I think I've been hurt real bad, ain't this one hell of a day
You'd better go and leave me now, I think I need some time to pray
You know how bad I've been wantin' to go home,
But I couldn't see rightly how,
Old Colonel Field ain't gonna to have no choice this time,
I think I'll get my furlough now.
And don't you tell me that you can't hear them,
Singing for you and me
And all the Maury Grays, Lord
Carry me back to Tennessee, Tennessee"
I told you I'm a simple man, I got no command of the written word
I can only try to tell you all the things I've seen and heard
So listen to the picture forever etched on my mind
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
The day that hell broke loose just north of Marietta all along the Kennesaw line
Wash your hands. Cough and sneeze in your sleeve. Stay home if you are sick. Stay informed. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu for more info.
- chas
- Posts: 7707
- Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2001 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 10
- Location: East Coast US
Geez, there are just too many to think of any. Three of my faves have been mentioned: The Band played Waltzing Matilda, Christmas in the Trenches, and Johnny I hardly knew ye/Fighting for strangers.
A few others that come to mind:
When I was on horseback
Universal Soldier (Buffie Ste Marie)
The Victory
Montrose
A few others that come to mind:
When I was on horseback
Universal Soldier (Buffie Ste Marie)
The Victory
Montrose
Charlie
Whorfin Woods
"Our work puts heavy metal where it belongs -- as a music genre and not a pollutant in drinking water." -- Prof Ali Miserez.
Whorfin Woods
"Our work puts heavy metal where it belongs -- as a music genre and not a pollutant in drinking water." -- Prof Ali Miserez.
- peeplj
- Posts: 9029
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2002 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: forever in the old hills of Arkansas
- Contact:
"The Lost Children"
--Gordon Lightfoot
Down the hall their voices ring, their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky, together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue they're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside but they'll not laugh again
All the games are ended now, their voices have been stilled
Their fathers built the tools of war by which they all were killed
Their mothers made the uniforms showing which side they were on
And the young boys were the middle men for the guns to pray upon
You've seen the fires in the night, watched the devil as he smiles
You've heard a mothers mournful cry as she searches for her child
You've seen the lines of refugees, the faces of despair
And wondered at the wise men who never seem to care
Goodbye you lost children, God speed you on your way
Your little beds are empty now, your toys are put away
Your mother sings a lullaby as she gazes at the floor
Your father builds more weapons and marches out once more
Down the hall their voices ring, their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky, together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue they're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside but they'll not laugh again
--James
Edited: fixing typos...
--Gordon Lightfoot
Down the hall their voices ring, their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky, together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue they're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside but they'll not laugh again
All the games are ended now, their voices have been stilled
Their fathers built the tools of war by which they all were killed
Their mothers made the uniforms showing which side they were on
And the young boys were the middle men for the guns to pray upon
You've seen the fires in the night, watched the devil as he smiles
You've heard a mothers mournful cry as she searches for her child
You've seen the lines of refugees, the faces of despair
And wondered at the wise men who never seem to care
Goodbye you lost children, God speed you on your way
Your little beds are empty now, your toys are put away
Your mother sings a lullaby as she gazes at the floor
Your father builds more weapons and marches out once more
Down the hall their voices ring, their feet are on the run
Phantoms on the winter sky, together they do come
Faded lips and eyes of blue they're carried in the wind
Their laughter filled the countryside but they'll not laugh again
--James
Edited: fixing typos...
Last edited by peeplj on Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- cowtime
- Posts: 5280
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2001 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Appalachian Mts.
Right up there with Sam Stone is -
(and I know I've posted this before, but, what can I say... I do love this tune)
Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag (Next Stop Vietnam)
Country Joe & the Fish
Come on all of you big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
he's got himself in a terrible jam
way down yonder in Viet Nam so
put down your books and pick up a gun we're
gonna have a whole lotta fun
(CHORUS)
And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for
don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam
And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates
ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die
Come on generals, let's move fast
your big chance has come at last
now you can go out and get those reds
cos the only good commie is the one that's dead and
you know that peace can only be won when we've
blown 'em all to kingdom come
Come on wall street don't be slow
why man this war is a go-go
there's plenty good money to be made by
supplying the army with the tools of its trade
let's hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
they drop it on the Viet Cong
Come on mothers throughout the land
pack your boys off to Viet Nam
come on fathers don't hesitate
send your sons off before it's too late
and you can be the first ones on your block
to have your boy come home in a box
(and I know I've posted this before, but, what can I say... I do love this tune)
Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag (Next Stop Vietnam)
Country Joe & the Fish
Come on all of you big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
he's got himself in a terrible jam
way down yonder in Viet Nam so
put down your books and pick up a gun we're
gonna have a whole lotta fun
(CHORUS)
And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for
don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam
And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates
ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die
Come on generals, let's move fast
your big chance has come at last
now you can go out and get those reds
cos the only good commie is the one that's dead and
you know that peace can only be won when we've
blown 'em all to kingdom come
Come on wall street don't be slow
why man this war is a go-go
there's plenty good money to be made by
supplying the army with the tools of its trade
let's hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
they drop it on the Viet Cong
Come on mothers throughout the land
pack your boys off to Viet Nam
come on fathers don't hesitate
send your sons off before it's too late
and you can be the first ones on your block
to have your boy come home in a box
"Let low-country intruder approach a cove
And eyes as gray as icicle fangs measure stranger
For size, honesty, and intent."
John Foster West
And eyes as gray as icicle fangs measure stranger
For size, honesty, and intent."
John Foster West