For whom 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
[ music: John Lombardo/lyric: John Lombardo adapts Wilfred Owen ] For whom 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 Explain Request ×
Lyrics taken from
/lyrics/0-9/10000_maniacs/anthem_for_doomed_youth.html
