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I Ain't Marching Anymore

from Honest Living by Matt Wixson

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about

This is a rewrite of the Phil Ochs song by the same name. His original song, written in the early 60’s, recapped the history of American warfare from the point of view of the soldier on the ground. Rather than retell his history, I updated it with our military involvements since. I strongly believe that every military situation we’ve been in since (at least) World War II has been a waste of money and a waste of life, and every single one has ended with the U.S. having a worse reputation in the world. Even a short-term victory has negative consequences down the road, and we never seem to learn that.

lyrics

Oh I marched through the jungles out in Vietnam
Trying to push all the Commies to the north
Well it didn’t end successful or justify the death toll
And I ain’t marching anymore

Oh I marched with Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein
Through the 80s they were on our side of course
Freedom fighters aren’t called terrorists when they fight against the Soviets
And I ain’t marching anymore

It’s always the old to lead us to the war
Always the young to fall
Now look at all we’ve won with the sabre and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all?

Oh I marched through the deserts of the Persian Gulf
Protecting business interests in the Desert Storm
While the oil fields were burning I knew that I was learning
That I ain’t marching anymore
I was stranded in the streets of Somalia
Back to back with the rest of Delta Force
When I saw the cost of meddling, oh I began backpedalling
And I ain’t marching anymore

It’s always the old to lead us to the war
Always the young to fall
Now look at all we’ve won with the sabre and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all?

Oh I marched through the mountains of Afghanistan
After terrorism crashed upon our shore
I assume it must be safer now cuz it’s not in the paper now
And I ain’t marching anymore

I’m awaiting redeployment in Iraq again
Even though nobody seems to know what for
The politicians lied and the media complied
And I ain’t marching anymore

It’s always the old to lead us to the war
Always the young to fall
Now look at all we’ve won with the sabre and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all?

Oh I tortured some prisoners in a secret jail
But I guess that made them hate us even more
You call it national defense or gathering intelligence
But I ain’t marching anymore

Oh I marched to the sound of the American drum
Because the FBI was listening through the door
Call it peace or call it treason, call it love or call it reason
But I ain’t marching anymore

credits

from Honest Living, released September 29, 2009

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