I see the ships sail off
to the gulf
and I sigh with relief,
because I'm not going:
I'm too old to die.

Every boy's secret fear
growing up, is that he'll
be sent to war,
and he'll die there
at nineteen.

The dream of
getting a car,
owning a house,
having kids,
growing old gracefully,
grandkids on the way:
all falls apart
upon hearing the words;
"We are at War."

The old man
sends the young man
out to die.
He tells himself
that it's their turn,
that they must go,
that we have no choice,
that the cause is just.

I send
the young man
out to die
'cause now I'm safe
from the draft
I just don't care.

Send them all,
send Rove McManus,
Johanna Griggs can do Red Cross,
me, I'm not involved.

I send
the young man
out to die
'cause now I'm safe
I just don't care.