The soldier boy for his soldier's pay
Obeys the sergeant at arms whatever he says
The sergeant will for his sergeant's pay
Obey the captain 'till his dying day
The captain will for his captain's pay
Obey the general order of battle play
The generals bow to the government
Obey the charge you must not relent
What of the neighbors and the prophets in bars?
What are they sayin' in the public bazaar?
We are tired of the tune you must not relent
At every stroke of the bell in the tower there goes
Another boy from another side
The bulletins that steady come in say those
Familiar words at the top of the hour
The jamming city increases its hum
And those terrible words continue to come
Through brass music of government hear those
Guns tattoo a roll on the drums
No one mentions the neighboring war
No one knows what they're fighting for
We are tired of the tune you must not relent
The generals bow to the government
We are tired of the tune you must not relent