My papa told me when I was young
Don't play with tanks and guns 'cos they ain't good my son
He said war ain't peace no matter what they preach
And it's best to get along with everyone.
When I reached 21 my country handed me a gun
And told me it was wrong to turn it down
They said I should agree to go fight the enemy
'Cos they was tryin' to kill us everyone.
I said I couldn't see any real enemy
They said I'd got it wrong and I must fight to keep us free
But it sorta seemed to me (that) we never could be free
Unless we'd all agree to get along.
Well now I'm 51 tryin' to tell my own son
What my papa said to me about tryin' to get along
In fightin' there's no gain just a lot of bloody pain
And the same old poison game for everyone.
My papa told me when I was young
Don't play with tanks and guns 'cos they ain't good my son
He said war ain't peace no matter what they preach
And it's best to get along with everyone.
Our "message" song.