The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #11266   Message #745
Posted By: stephens@execpc.com (wyatt stephens)
11-Dec-96 - 08:39 PM
Thread Name: Origins: I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag
Subject: Lyr Add: I FEEL LIKE I'M FIXIN' TO DIE RAG
From Rise Up Singing, Peter Blood-Patterson, editor:

I FEEL LIKE I'M FIXIN' TO DIE RAG
(Joe McDonald)

Come on, all of you big strong men.
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam,
Way down yonder in Vietnam,
So put down your books and pick up a gun.
We're gonna have a whole lot of fun!

CHORUS:
And it’s l, 2, 3, what are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn.
Next stop is Vietnam,
And it’s 5, 6 7, open up the pearly gates.
There ain’t no time to wonder why.
Whoopie! We’re all gonna die!

Come on, generals, let's move fast.
Your big chance has come at last.
Now you can go out and get those Reds,
The only good Commie is one that's dead.
You know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come!

Come on, Wall Street, don't be slow.
Why, man, this is war Au-go-go.
There's plenty good money to be made
Supplying the army with tools of the trade.
Just hope and pray if they drop the Bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong!

Come on, mothers, throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on, fathers, don't hesitate.
Send your sons off before it’s too late.
You can be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

©1965, Joe McDonald

Live performance by Country Joe & the Fish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7-ngmO_p8