King Henry

[Verse 1] King Henry marched forth a sword in his hand Two thousand horsemen all at his command; In a fortnight the rivers ran red through the land The year fifteen hundred and twenty. [Verse 2] The year it is now nineteen sixty-five It’s easier far to stay half-alive. Just keep your mouth shut while the planes zoom and dive Ten thousand miles over the ocean. [Verse 3] Simon was drafted in sixty-three In sixty-four sent over the sea Last month this letter he sent to me He said "You won’t like what I’m sayin’." [Verse 4] He said "We’ve no friends here no hardly a one We’ve got a few generals who just want our guns. But it’ll take more than that if we’re ever to win; Why we’ll have to flatten the country." [Verse 5] "It’s my own troops I have to watch out for" he said "I sleep with a pistol right under my head;" He wrote this last month last week he was dead And Simon came home in a casket. [Verse 6] I mind my own business I watch my TV Complain about taxes but pay anyway. In a civilized manner my forefathers betray Who long ago struggled for freedom. [Verse 7] But each day a new headline screams at my bluff On TV some general says we must be tough. In my dreams I stare at this family I love All gutted and spattered with napalm. [Verse 8] King Henry marched forth a sword in his hand Two thousand horsemen all at his command; In a fortnight the rivers ran red through the land The year fifteen hundred and twenty. [Verse 9] The year it is now nineteen sixty-five It’s easier far to stay half alive. Just keep your mouth shut while the planes zoom and dive Ten thousand miles over the ocean. [Alternate verse 2/9:] The year it is now much later it seems It’s easier far in the land of our dreams Just keep your mouth shut and don’t hear the screams Ten thousand miles over the ocean.