Vietnam Blues lyrics

I was on leave at the time, just duckin' the fog,

nosin' around like a hungry 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 to see what I could see.

They was a strange-looking bunch.

But I never did understand civilians.

A fellow came to me with a list in his hand.

"We're gatherin' names to send a telegram of sympathy."

Then he handed me a pen.

I said, "I reckon this is goin' to the children and wives

of my friends over there who've given their lives."

He says, "Uh-uh, buddy, this is goin' to Ho Chi Minh."

I said, "Ho Chi who?"

He said, "Ho Chi Minh, People's Leader, North Vietnam."

Well, I wasn't real sure I was hearin' him right.

But I thought we'd better remove before we got in a fight

because my eyes were smartin', and my pulse started hitting a lick.

I thought about another telegram I'd read

tellin' my buddy's wife that her husband was dead.

It wasn't too long till I was feelin' downright sick.

Another held the sign that said 'We won't fight.'

And I thought to myself, 'You got that right.

You'd rather let a soldier die instead.'

I said, "You ever stop to think

that every man who died there in that far-off land

was dyin' so that you won't wake up dead?"

Of course, he looked at me like I was crazy,

just another warmonger.

Well, I left that place and went to town

and hit the first bar that I found to cool myself and pacify my brain.

See, I was on orders back to Vietnam, to a little place just north of Saigon,

and I had about an hour to catch my plane.

So, all I mean to say is, 'I don't like dyin' either.

But I care about the way I live.'

• Artist:Kris Kristofferson