The Willing Conscript

Oh sergeant, I'm a draftee And I've just arrived in camp I've come to wear the uniform And join the martial tramp And I want to do my duty But one thing I do implore You must give me lessons, sergeant For I've never killed before To do my job obediently Is all that I desire To learn my weapon thoroughly And how to aim and fire To learn to kill the enemy And then to slaughter more Oh, I'll need instruction, sergeant For I've never killed before Now, there are rumors in the camp About our enemy They say that when you see him He looks just like you and me But you deny it, sergeant And you are a man of war So you must give me lessons For I've never killed before Now, there are several lessons That I haven't mastered yet I haven't got the hang of How to use the bayonet If he doesn't die at once Am I to stick him with it more? Oh, I hope you will be patient For I've never killed before And the hand grenade is somethin' That I just don't understand You've got to throw it quickly Or you're apt to lose your hand Does it blow a man to pieces With it's wicked, muffled roar? Oh, I've got so much to learn Because I've never killed before Well, I want to thank you, sergeant For the help you've been to me You've taught me how to kill And to hate the enemy And I know that I'll be ready When they march me off to war And I know that it won't matter That I've never killed before I know that it won't matter That I've never killed before --- The Willing Conscript - Tom Paxton