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When Johnny Came Marching Home
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The war is coming home. Homeless, PTSD-ruined young people, welcome home to the rough streets of the empire.
politics marijuana cannabis antiwar political iraq media social struggle israel cuba pirates environment labor afghanistan empire imperialism capitalism terrorism activism bullying bullies ecoterrorism guerrilla gardening irish hunger strike oil leaks oil spills social change
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"If the great Phil Ochs were to rise from the dead today, he would probably be hailed as the new David Rovics." Andy Kershaw, BBC
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Folk Rock
Charts
Peak #76
Peak in subgenre #5
Author
david rovics
Rights
David Rovics 2006 All Rights Reserved
Uploaded
May 02, 2006
Track Files
MP3
MP3 7.5 MB • 320 kbps • 3:15
Story behind the song
The war is coming home. Homeless, PTSD-ruined young people, welcome home to the rough streets of the empire.
Lyrics
He got off the plane and looked at no one He walked down the tarmac in the direction of nowhere He followed the sun as it was setting Glad to be done with all the bloodletting There were no banners for the proud and the few Just workers in airports that do what they do Fuel up the planes, unload the bags Along with the coffins all covered in flags When Johnny came marching home The town he was from was a dead little place So he looked for a job somewhere off-base In this city of pawn shops and hotels and bars Gas stations, strip clubs, highways and cars He went to a dive, ordered a beer Said turn the music up loud so it's all that I hear Try to rewind, turn back the years Stop the explosions between my ears When Johnny came marching home The jobs were all shit and the beer it was cheap And besides there was no other way he could sleep Still the screams and the guns would wake him at night And he was always on edge and ready to fight And when he closed his eyes he would just see the face Of a woman he killed in a far-away place Over and over, the white of her eye And her final and terrible terrified cry When Johnny came marching home After just a short time his health fell apart With an ache in the joints and such a thump in the heart And the doctor just told him it's all in his head But he couldn't stop drinking or get out of bed And with no place to go but the wrong way It was a shock to his ears when he heard himself say Over and over to anyone within range Hey mister, can you spare some change When Johnny came marching home
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