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. Second verse tweaked by Alex Ellis
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 fought my Native neighbors 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