PS The "Universal Soldier" always makes me think of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War"; although this song is much harsher, I find it expresses my feelings about those who instigate wars better than any other song I know.

MASTERS OF WAR
Written by Bob Dylan
As recorded by Bob Dylan on "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" (1963)

1. Come you masters of war,
You that build the big guns,
You that build the death planes,
You that build all the bombs,
You that hide behind walls,
You that hide behind desks:
I just want you to know I can through your masks.

2. You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy,
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy.
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes,
Then you turn and run farther when the fast bullets fly.

3. Like Judas of old,
You lie and deceive.
A world war can be won,
You want me to believe;
But I see through your eyes,
And I see through your brain,
Like I see through the water that runs down my drain.

4. You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire,
Then you sit back and watch
While the death count gets higher.
You hide in your mansion
While the young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies and is buried in the mud.

5. You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled:
Fear to bring children
Into the world.
For threatenin' my baby,
Unborn and unnamed,
You ain't worth the blood that runs in your veins.

6. How much do I know
To talk out of turn?
You might say that I'm young.
You might say I'm unlearned.
But this one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you:
That even Jesus would never forgive what you do.

7. Let me ask you one question:
Is your money that good?
Will it buy you forgiveness?
Do you think that it could?
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll,
All the money you made will never buy back your soul.

8. And I hope that you die,
And your death will come soon.
I'll follow your casket
On the pale afternoon,
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your death bed,
And I'll stand over your grave till I'm sure that you're dead.

Marion