Lyrics I Ain't Marchin' Anymore (Live) - Phil Ochs

Now the trick is with wearing a suit like this
Is, um, is the same trick as living in America today
Which is how do you come to terms with wealth
And uh, and such a, in a world so filled with troubles
Can you still have a sense of responsibility?
(Strip!)
No, no, I could never strip, for that would be cheap
I prefer to maintain my dignity as an American citizen
I will never strip
So I'll now try to wear this gold suit and sing a song of significance
And try to have wealth come to terms with responsibility

Oh, I marched to the Battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
Young land started growing, young blood started flowing
But I ain't marching anymore

For I killed my share of Injuns in a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men a-lying, I saw many more a-dying
But I ain't marching anymore

It's always the old to lead us to the wars
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all?

For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes, I even killed my brothers, so many others
But I ain't marching anymore

For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh, I must have killed a million men, now they want me back again
But I ain't marching anymore

It's always the old to lead us to the wars
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all?

For I flew the final mission in the Japanese skies
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning, knew that I was learning
That I ain't marching anymore

Now the labor leader is screaming when they close the missile plant
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore
Call it peace or call it treason, call it love or call it reason
But I ain't marching anymore
No, I ain't marching anymore