Anthem For Doomed Youth

For whom do the bells toll

When sentenced to die

The stuttering rifles

Will stifle the cry

The monstrous anger

The fear's rapid rattle

A desert inferno

Kids dying like cattle

Don't tell me

We're not prepared

I've seen today's marine

He's eighteen and he's eager

He can be quite mean

No mock'ries for them

No prayers or bells

The demented choirs

The wailing of shells

The boys holding candles

On untraveled roads

The fear spreads like fire

As shrapnel explodes

I think it's wrong

To conscript our youth

Against their will

When plenty of our citizenry

Really like to kill

What sign posts will lead

To armageddon's fires

What bugles will call them

From crowded grey shires

The women sit quiet

With death on their minds

A slow dusk descending

The drawing of blinds

Make the hunters all line up

It's their idea of fun

And let those be forgiven

Who never owned a gun

Was it him or me

Or the wailing of the dead

The laughing soldiers

Cast their lots

And you can cut the dread