When Johnny Came Marching Home

WHEN JOHNNY CAME MARCHING HOME AGAIN, HURRAH! HURRAH!
HE WAS EXPECTING A WELCOME HOME AGAIN, HURRAH! HURRAH!
BUT THEY SPAT ON HIM, CURSED HIM OUT
“BABY KILLER,” THEY ACCUSED WITH A SHOUT
WHEN HE CAME MARCHING HOME

TO VIET NAM HE WAS FORCED TO GO, HURRAH! HURRAH!
FOR REASONS HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND OR KNOW, HURRAH! HURRAH?!
SO HE DID HIS DUTY, DIDN’T DODGE THE DRAFT
DID HIS TOUR, LEARNED A DEADLY CRAFT
NOW HE’S COME MARCHING HOME

A WEEK AGO HE WAS ON PATROL, HURRAH! HURRAH!
WATCHED FRIENDS DIE ON A BLOODY KNOLL, HURRAH! HURRAH!
SOME OF THEM EARNED A BODY BAG
SHEDDING TEARS, DID HIS SHOULDERS SAG
NOW HE’S COME MARCHING HOME

HE KEPT A TALLY OF HIS VIET CONG KILLS, HURRAH! HURRAH!
LOST TRACK OF FIGHTS ON FOREIGN HILLS, HURRAH! HURRAH!
HE REMEMBERS THE DAY HE WAS SHOT
PROUD OF THE PURPLE HEART HE GOT
NOW HE’S COME MARCHING HOME

USED TO THE GROUND, CAN’T SLEEP IN A BED, HURRAH! HURRAH!
NIGHTMARES OF RATS AND SNAKES HE DREADS, HURRAH! HURRAH!
VIET NAM’S STENCH IS IN HIS NOSE
HAS A FUNGAL DISEASE BETWEEN HIS TOES
NOW HE’S COME MARCHING HOME

THEY GAVE HIM NO TIME TO ADJUST, HURRAH! HURRAH!
BUT HERE HE IS AND NOW HE MUST, HURRAH! HURRAH!
NOW HE STRUGGLES WITH PTSD
TRYING TO FIT IN WITH YOU AND ME
NOW HE’S COME MARCHING HOME

Tuesday, June 21, 2022