“I Ain’t Marching Any More” Sheet Music (pdf).
“I Ain’t Marching Any More” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Phil Ochs.
Tune: 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!
For I killed my share of injuns in a thousand diff’rent fights.
I was there at the Little Big Horn.
I heard many more a-lying; I saw many more a-dying.
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 all 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 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 a-marching anymore!
It’s always the old to lead us to the wars;
Always the young to fall.
Now, look at all 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 skies,
Set off the mighty mushroom roar.
When I saw the cities burning, I knew that I was learning
That I ain’t a-marching anymore!
Now, the labor leader’s screaming when they close the missile plant.
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore.
Call it peace or call it treason; call it love or call it reason:
I ain’t a-marching anymore!
No, I ain’t a-marching anymore!