I was on leave at the time,
just ducking the fog,
nosing around like a skinny dog
in that crazy place called Washington, D .C.
I saw a crowd of people
on the White House lawn all
carrying signs about Vietnam,
so I went on over
just to see what I could see.
They was a strange looking bunch,
but then I never did
understand civilians.
Well, a fella came to me
with a list in his hand,
says we're gathering names
to send a telegram of sympathy.
Then he handed me a pen.
I says, I reckon this is going to the children and wives
of my friends over there who've given their lives.
He said, uh -uh, buddy,
this is going to Ho Chi Minh.
I says, Ho Chi who?
He says, Ho Chi Minh,
people's leader, North Vietnam.
Well, I wasn't real sure
that I was hearing him right,
but I thought I'd better move
before I get in a fight,
because my eyes were smarting
and my pulse started hitting a lick.
Then I thought about another
telegram I'd read
Tellin' my buddy's wife
that her husband was dead
And it wasn't too long
till I was feelin' downright sick
Another held up a sign
that said, we won't fight
And I thought to myself, boy,
ain't that right
You'd rather let a soldier die instead
I said, it's a shame that every man
Who died there in that far off land
Was dyin' just so you
won't wake up dead
Of course he looked at me
kinda like I was crazy
Just another warmonger
Well I left that place and went into town
And hit the very first bar I found
To cool myself and to pacify my brain
You see, I was on orders to Vietnam
to a little bitty place north of Saigon,
and I had about just one
hour to catch my plane.
So all I mean to say is,
I don't like dying either,
but man, I ain't about
to crawl. you