VIETNAM BLUES
(Kris Kristofferson)

Dave Dudley - 1965


 
I was on leave at the time, just duckin' the fog
Nosin' around like a hungry dog
In that crazy place called Washington DC
I saw a crowd of people on the White House lawn
All carryin' signs about Vietnam
So I went over to see what was goin' on
It was a strange lookin' bunch
But then I never could understand some people

Well, a fellah came to me with a list in his hand
He said, "We're gatherin' names to send a telegram of sympathy"
Then he handed me a pen
I said, "I reckon this is goin' to the kids and the wives
Of my friends over there who'd givin' their lives"
He said "Uh-uh, buddy, this is goin' to Ho-Chi-Min"
I said, "Ho-Chi who?"
He said, "Ho-Chi-Min, People's leader, North Vietnam"

Well, I wasn't real sure if I was hearin' him right
So I thought I'd better move before I got in a fight
'Cause my ears were hurtin' and my pulse started hittin' a lick
Then I thought about another telegram that I'd just read
Tellin' my buddy's wife that her husband was dead
And it wasn't too long till I was feelin' downright sick

Another held a sign that said 'we won't fight'
I thought to myself, "Boy, ain't that right!
You'd rather let a soldier die instead"
I said, "It's a shame that every man
Who ever died there inthat far off land
Was dyin' so that you wouldn't have to wake up dead"
Course he looked at me like I was kinda crazy
Just another warmonger

Well, I left that place and I went downtown
Hit the first bar that I found
To cool myself off and pacify my brain
You see I was on orders to Vietnam
Little old place just north of Saigon
Had about an hour to catch myself a plane
So all I mean to say is, "I don't like dyin' either
But man, I ain't gonna crawl!"


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - September 2010)