I wanted it to get people out of their classrooms and onto their feet. But certain things I have to say are pitched at too high a level to bring any lasting benefit to as many people as I would like to bring it to. If I have something of myself that gets me off, that's brought me through hard times and that refreshes and nourishes me, what good does it do if I'm not smart enough to get it to the people? And I don't mean only the people who are like me, I mean all the people. That's communication. There's no sense being a closet genius. It doesn't do me any good to keep the medicine in the bottle.
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Lyrics
Words and music Buffy Sainte-Marie
Copyright Caleb Music
He's five foot two and he's six foot four
He fights with missiles and with spears
He's all of 31 and he's only 17
He's been a soldier for a thousand years
He's a Catholic, a Hindu, an atheist a Jain,
A Buddhist, and a Baptist and a Jew
And he knows he shouldn't kill and he knows he always will
Kill you for me, my friend, and me for you
He's fighting for Canada. He's fighting for France. He's fighting for the USA and he's fighting for the Russians and he's fighting for Japan
And he thinks he'll put an end to war this way
He's fighting for democracy, he's fighting for the Reds
He's says it’s for the peace of all
He's the one who must decide who's to live and who's to die
And he never sees the writing on the wall
But without him how would Hitler have condemned him at Dachau
Without him Caesar would have stood alone.
He's the one who gives his body as a weapon to a war
And without him all this killing can't go on
He's the universal soldier and he is really is to blame
But his orders come from far away no more
They come from him and you and me
and Brothers, can't you see this is not the way to put an end to war?
11 comments:
Bowled me over.
"***what good does it do if I'm not smart enough to get it to the people? *** There's no sense being a closet genius. It doesn't do me any good to keep the medicine in the bottle."
I like the song, but I see that the lyrics are not the same as Buffy sings in this video. Not cool.
@Anonymous If you look at her later performances of this song, the lyrics have changed somewhat. I've noticed this with some of her other songs, too, (e.g., I'm Going be a Country Girl Again, Now that the Buffalo's Gone, and Indian Cowboy at the Rodeo).
Nevertheless, I've noticed that on the internet song lyrics can be quite off much of the time. I've compared lyrics to the same songs posted at different sites, and they can be quite different from each other.
I love this video, partly because it sounds pretty close to the record that was played in my home when I was very young--but my favorite version of this song is one Buffy Ste. Marie sang in 2007 at Anishnawbe Keeshigun. (It can be found on YouTube.)
I just prefer the way she sings it now, and even though the camera work on this video is a bit unstable, it's always better to see her performing, IMO, rather than merely listening to her. (I appreciate the video here, too, because it's of also a performance. I personally don't care if the camera work isn't technically perfect.)
Right on Buffy Sainte Maria. You're the best.
Love this! First time I heard it was at a late 1960s Newport Folk Festival and it added to my decision to give up a career in the Navy. I served for 10 years and refused advancement to chief petty officer (E-7) to get out. Became a civilian and worked as a tech instructor for decades. Looking back, I'm glad I served and glad I left when I did.
Love her!
Love her!
sign- "there are no coincidences"
Buffy - I have all your albums including the one with this song. The meaning is deep, and the message is clear. I love the song and its meaning.From my perspective, it must be sung over and over again. Not just one time. In some way we must bring this message to the world, before it is too late. Keep trying. I have loved you since the first time I heard you sing. I am 78 years of age and never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever meet you. I have now met you 3 times in London Ontario Canada. Please come again before Creator ends my Journey and takes me Home
As the parent of a musician, I would like to remind those complaining about the "exactness" of the lyrics that musicians have many hundreds of songs in their brain and the playback is never faultless. And music is an art and musicians will bend the lyrics to the occasion.
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