I Ain't Marching Anymore
by Philip David Ochs (1965) [nb: an extra verse was added by
Richard Thompson in 2002 so as to reflect America's current
foreign policy; furthermore, additional lyrics were added in 2008
by Cathy Richardson when Jefferson Starship included this song in
Jefferson's Tree of Liberty album]
Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain't marchin' anymore
For I've killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying, I saw many more dying
But I ain't marchin' anymore
It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all
For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brothers
And so many others
But I ain't marchin' anymore
For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore
It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all
For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning I knew that I was learning
That I ain't marchin' anymore
Now the labor leader's screamin'
when they close the missile plants
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore
Call it Peace or call it Treason
Call it Love or call it Reason
But I ain't marchin' any more –
No, I ain't marchin' any more
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