The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #56795   Message #2722075
Posted By: TonyA
12-Sep-09 - 12:16 AM
Thread Name: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever?
Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever?
Rich Man's War, by Steve Earle

Jimmy joined the army 'cause he had no place to go.
There ain't nobody hirin' 'round here since all the jobs went down to Mexico.
Reckoned that he'd learn himself a trade, maybe see the world;
Move to the city someday, and marry a black haired girl.
Somebody somewhere had another plan.
Now he's got a rifle in his hand,
Rollin' into Baghdad, wonderin' how he got this far;
Just another poor boy, off to fight a rich man's war.

Bobby had an eagle and a flag tattooed on his arm,
Red white and blue to the bone when he landed in Kandahar.
Left behind a pretty young wife and a baby girl,
A stack of overdue bills and went off to save the world.
Been a year now and he's still there,
Chasin' ghosts in the thin dry air.
Meanwhile back at home the finance company took his car;
Just another poor boy, off to fight a rich man's war.

When will we ever learn?
When will we ever see?
We stand up and take our turn,
And keep tellin' ourselves we're free.

Ali was the second son of a second son.
Grew up in Gaza, throwing bottles and rocks when the tanks would come.
Ain't nothin' else to do around here; just a game children play.
Somethin' 'bout livin' in fear all your life makes you hard that way.
He answered when he got the call;
Wrapped himself in death and praised Allah;
A fat man in a new Mercedes drove him to the door;
Just another poor boy, off to fight a rich man's war.