It’s blowing in the wind again, it’s drifting in the rain
Before the dead have moldered yet or wounded healed their pain
I am so old my grandchildren, that I remember when
I marched to hail the armistice and I was barely ten
That was the war against all war, to save democracy
Praise God they said we’ve won the peace for all eternity
I marched again when some years passed and marched and marched and then
There was the war to end all war and so I marched again
I marched in Minneapolis, Chicago and Duluth
In San Francisco and New York, I marched to shout the truth
I marched in Hiroshima and knelt before a stash
Of tens of million bones of people atomized to ash
And with the distant rumble of new regiments of men
I read the warning on the tomb, “This must not be again”
I marched to staunch Korea’s blood, I marched for Vietnam
I marched to stop the napalm and I marched to stop the bomb
I’ve marched and marched and marched oh Lord, I’m sure I’ve done my due
I’ve marched since I was barely ten and now I’m seventy-two
I should be lying in the sun or dreaming in the grass
But how when generals everywhere are polishing their brass
Entranced with dreams of four star roles, so help me Lord they’re glad
It’s said that whom the gods destroy they first must render mad
Their burning eyes see No-Man’s Land and armies poised for action
And you my warm and loving ones, you’re merely an abstraction
It’s geo-politics again, and oh with what finesse
The players push their pawns about, these masterminds of chess
How cunningly they plot each move, how logically they spar
And checkmate one another like the masters that they are
How stimulating, how intense! A world to lose or gain
Except for one dismaying fact, the players are insane
Composed dispassionate they play this game that madness spawns
And I can’t even look away, my children are the pawns
I marched to staunch Korea’s blood, I marched for Vietnam
I marched to stop the napalm and I marched to stop the bomb
I’ve marched and marched and marched oh Lord, I’m sure I’ve done my due
I’ve marched since I was barely ten and now I’m seventy-two
Some people keep on fighting when they’ve lost an arm or leg
Some still keep up the struggle when they’re fragile as an egg
I’ve heard men rasping I object with voices turned to gravel
I’ve seen a woman raise a fist who couldn’t lift a gavel
And even with a broken heart, one still can make a stand
So lead my children lead the way, reach back and take my hand
I’ll march again, confound them all, don’t quibble at my age
I’ll shield you with my brittle bones, I’ll nourish you with rage!
I marched to staunch Korea’s blood, I marched for Vietnam
I marched to stop the napalm and I marched to stop the bomb
I’ve marched and marched and marched oh Lord, I’m sure I’ve done my due
I’ve marched since I was barely ten and now I’m seventy-two
We’ll march again, confound them all, don’t quibble at my age
I’ll shield you with my brittle bones, I’ll nourish you with rage!
Before the dead have moldered yet or wounded healed their pain
I am so old my grandchildren, that I remember when
I marched to hail the armistice and I was barely ten
That was the war against all war, to save democracy
Praise God they said we’ve won the peace for all eternity
I marched again when some years passed and marched and marched and then
There was the war to end all war and so I marched again
I marched in Minneapolis, Chicago and Duluth
In San Francisco and New York, I marched to shout the truth
I marched in Hiroshima and knelt before a stash
Of tens of million bones of people atomized to ash
And with the distant rumble of new regiments of men
I read the warning on the tomb, “This must not be again”
I marched to staunch Korea’s blood, I marched for Vietnam
I marched to stop the napalm and I marched to stop the bomb
I’ve marched and marched and marched oh Lord, I’m sure I’ve done my due
I’ve marched since I was barely ten and now I’m seventy-two
I should be lying in the sun or dreaming in the grass
But how when generals everywhere are polishing their brass
Entranced with dreams of four star roles, so help me Lord they’re glad
It’s said that whom the gods destroy they first must render mad
Their burning eyes see No-Man’s Land and armies poised for action
And you my warm and loving ones, you’re merely an abstraction
It’s geo-politics again, and oh with what finesse
The players push their pawns about, these masterminds of chess
How cunningly they plot each move, how logically they spar
And checkmate one another like the masters that they are
How stimulating, how intense! A world to lose or gain
Except for one dismaying fact, the players are insane
Composed dispassionate they play this game that madness spawns
And I can’t even look away, my children are the pawns
I marched to staunch Korea’s blood, I marched for Vietnam
I marched to stop the napalm and I marched to stop the bomb
I’ve marched and marched and marched oh Lord, I’m sure I’ve done my due
I’ve marched since I was barely ten and now I’m seventy-two
Some people keep on fighting when they’ve lost an arm or leg
Some still keep up the struggle when they’re fragile as an egg
I’ve heard men rasping I object with voices turned to gravel
I’ve seen a woman raise a fist who couldn’t lift a gavel
And even with a broken heart, one still can make a stand
So lead my children lead the way, reach back and take my hand
I’ll march again, confound them all, don’t quibble at my age
I’ll shield you with my brittle bones, I’ll nourish you with rage!
I marched to staunch Korea’s blood, I marched for Vietnam
I marched to stop the napalm and I marched to stop the bomb
I’ve marched and marched and marched oh Lord, I’m sure I’ve done my due
I’ve marched since I was barely ten and now I’m seventy-two
We’ll march again, confound them all, don’t quibble at my age
I’ll shield you with my brittle bones, I’ll nourish you with rage!
Contributed by James - 2021/7/4 - 00:23
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Note for non-Italian users: Sorry, though the interface of this website is translated into English, most commentaries and biographies are in Italian and/or in other languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian etc.
This song is not only antiwar, it's anti-military.
Words by Irene Paull, music by Barb Tilsen
© 1980 Irene Paull & Barbara Sandstrom Tilsen
Best know version is sung by Faith Petric
Irene Levine Paull - Wikipedia
About Barb - Barb Tilsen