I Ain't Marching Anymore (Phil Ochs)

I Ain't Marching Anymore
Author	Phil Ochs
First published	1965
Type	Song

Library

Oh, I marched to the battle of New Orleans

At the end of the early British wars

The young land started growing

The young blood started flowing

But I ain't marching 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 marching anymore

Chorus:

It's always the old to lead us to the wars

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 marching 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 marching anymore

Chorus

For I flew the final mission in the Japanese skies

Set off the mighty mushroom roar

When I saw the cities burning

I knew that I was learning

That I ain't marching 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 marching anymore

No, I ain't marching anymore