Afternoon Matinee: Protest - I Ain't Marching Anymore

Performed by Phil Ochs

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 a-marching anymore!

Oh I killed my share of Injuns in a thousand different fights,

I was there at the Little Big Horn.

I heard many men a-lying,

I saw many more a-dying.

But I ain't a-marching anymore!

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

Always the young to fall.

Now look at what we've won with a saber and a 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 a-marching anymore!

For I marched to the battle 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 a-marching anymore!

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

Always the young to fall.

Now look at what we've won with a saber and a gun.

Tell me is it worth it all?

For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky,

Set off the mighty mushroom roar.

But I saw the cities burnin',

And I knew that I was learnin',

That I ain't a-marching anymore!

Now the labor leader's screamin' when they closed the missile plant,

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 a-marching anymore!

I ain't a-marching anymore!

~ from Lyric Wiki ~