In New South Wales there lives a man, a teacher young and true,
Who would not be conscripted in the ballot of the few.
When first they called him up to serve he went along to court
And said “I can not go against the things I have been taught.
“Violence leads to violence and pain and useless tears
Each war has spawned a bigger war these last ten thousand years.
Said the judge “Would you refuse to fight the strangler of your mother?
Come answer this one question now. The court will have no other.”
“I can not call my enemies a people far away
Who've waited now for peace through many a weary night and day,
And the day of peace will never come, the terrors never end
If a government says who must be my foe and who my friend.”
The judge said, “William White, into the army you must go.
Though your case does not convince me, you in action might be slow.
As a cook or as a slushie, as an orderly you'll serve
And help the frontline boys who have a different kind of nerve.”
“An army's not an army except in time of war.
Destruction is the purpose it was created for.
I can not help the military. My flag of hate is furled.
My work is teaching children of the wonders of this world.”
His case and his appeal dismissed, then came the intake day.
To the school and not the barracks he early made his way
And when they came to sack him, his living to deny,
He said, “I want to go back to the class and say goodbye.”
“You'll never go back, William White, into that room again.
You will not farewell them and you will not explain.
Since you will not carry out for us the plans we call defence
Any man who gives you work will be committing an offence.”
Have you heard a politician say that war's the only course?
Have you heard a mad philosopher preach the mind and heart's divorce?
Have you heard the dreadful logic of a hanging judge's speech?
Then you'll know the man to whom you'd say, “Take this child and teach.”
Who would not be conscripted in the ballot of the few.
When first they called him up to serve he went along to court
And said “I can not go against the things I have been taught.
“Violence leads to violence and pain and useless tears
Each war has spawned a bigger war these last ten thousand years.
Said the judge “Would you refuse to fight the strangler of your mother?
Come answer this one question now. The court will have no other.”
“I can not call my enemies a people far away
Who've waited now for peace through many a weary night and day,
And the day of peace will never come, the terrors never end
If a government says who must be my foe and who my friend.”
The judge said, “William White, into the army you must go.
Though your case does not convince me, you in action might be slow.
As a cook or as a slushie, as an orderly you'll serve
And help the frontline boys who have a different kind of nerve.”
“An army's not an army except in time of war.
Destruction is the purpose it was created for.
I can not help the military. My flag of hate is furled.
My work is teaching children of the wonders of this world.”
His case and his appeal dismissed, then came the intake day.
To the school and not the barracks he early made his way
And when they came to sack him, his living to deny,
He said, “I want to go back to the class and say goodbye.”
“You'll never go back, William White, into that room again.
You will not farewell them and you will not explain.
Since you will not carry out for us the plans we call defence
Any man who gives you work will be committing an offence.”
Have you heard a politician say that war's the only course?
Have you heard a mad philosopher preach the mind and heart's divorce?
Have you heard the dreadful logic of a hanging judge's speech?
Then you'll know the man to whom you'd say, “Take this child and teach.”
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