Phil Ochs - Talking Vietnam Lyrics
Sailing over to vietnam,Southeast asian birmingham.Well training is the word we use,Nice word to have in case we lose.Training a million vietnameseTo fight for the wrong government and the american way.Well they put me in a barracks houseJust across the way from laos.They said youre pretty safe when the troops deployBut dont turn your back on your house boyWhen they ring the gong, watch out for the viet-cong.Well the sergeant said its time to trainSo I climbed aboard my helicopter plane.We flew above the battle groundA sniper tried to shoot us down.He must have forgotten, were only trainees.Them commies never fight fair.Friends the very next day we trained some moreWe burned some villages down to the floor.Yes we burned out the jungles far and wide,Made sure those red apes had no place left to hide.Threw all the people in relocation camps,Under lock and key, made damn sure theyre free.Well I walked through the jungle and around the bendWho should I meet but president diem.Said youre fighting to keep vietnam freeFor good old de-em-moc-ra-cy (diem-ocracy).That means rule by one familyAnd 15,000 american troops, give or take a fewThousand.American.Troops.He said: I was a fine old christian manRuling this backward buddhist land.Well it aint much but what the heckIt sure beats hell out of chiang kai-shekIm the power elite. me and the 7th fleet.He said: meet my sister, madam nhuThe sweetheart of dien bien phuHe said: meet my brothers, meet my auntsWith the government that doesnt take a chance.Families that slay together, stay together.Said: if you want to stay youll have to payOver a million dollars a day.But its worth it all, dont you see?If you loose the country youll still have me.Me and syngman rhee, chiang kai-shek, madam nhu.Like I said on _meet the press_i regret that I have but one country to give for my life.Well now old dien is gone and deadAll the new leaders are anti-red.Yes theyre pro-american, freedom sensationsAgainst red china, the united nations.Now all the news commentators and the ciaAre saying, thank God for coincidence.
