Phil Ochs 1964
Ochs said of the song that it “borders between pacifism and treason, combining the best qualities of both.” He also wrote “the fact that you won’t be hearing this song on the radio is more than enough justification for the writing of it.” In August 1968, Ochs performed it during the protests outside the Democratic National Convention, inspiring hundreds of young men to burn their draft cards, which Ochs described as the highlight of his career.
Phil Ochs: I Ain’t Marching Anymore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRU_ruqnR6Q
Oh, I marched to the Battle of New Orleans At the end of the early British wars A young land started growing The young blood started flowing But I ain’t a-marching anymore For I’ve killed my share of Injuns in a thousand different fights I was there at the Little Big Horn I heard many men a-lying I saw many more a-dying But I ain’t a-marching anymore Chorus: It’s always the old to lead us to the wars Always the young to fall Now look at all we’ve won with the saber and the 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 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 screamin’ when they close the missile plants United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore Call it peace or call it treason Call it love or call it reason But I ain’t a-marching anymore