Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley (Julian Wilson and James M. Smith) Recitation 1 (background music: verse of Battle Hymn of the Republic) Once upon a time there was a little boy who wanted to grow up to be a soldier and serve his country in whatever way he could. He would parade around the house with a saucepan on his head for a helmet, a wooden sword in one hand and the American flag in the other. As he grew up, he put away the things of a child, but he never let go of the flag. Sung: (same tune) My name is William Calley, I'm a soldier of this land I've tried to do my duty and to gain the upper hand, But they've made me out a villain, they have stamped me with a brand As we go marching on. I'm just another soldier from the shores of U.S.A, Forgotten on a battlefield ten thousand miles away While life goes on as usual from New York to Santa Fe As we go marching on. I've seen my buddies ambushed on the left and on the right, And their youthful bodies riddled by the bullets of the night Where all the rules are broken and the only law is might As we go marching on. While we're fighting in the jungles, they were marching in the street, While we're dying in the rice fields they were helping our defeat While we're facing V.C. bullets they were sounding a retreat As we go marching on. With our sweat we took the bunkers, with our tears we took the plain, With our blood we took the mountain and they gave it back again Still all of us are soldiers we're too busy to complain As we go marching on. Recitation 2 (background music: chorus of Battle Hymn of the Republic) When I reach my final campground in that land beyond the sun, and the Great Commander asks me, "Did you fight or did you run?" I'll stand both straight and tall, stripped of medals, rank and gun, and this is what I'll say: "Sir, I followed all my orders and I did the best I could; it's hard to judge the enemy and hard to tell the good, yet there's not a man among us would not have understood. We took the jungle village exactly like they said, we responded to their rifle fire with everything we had. And when the smoke had cleared away a hundred souls lay dead. Sir, the soldier that's alive is the only one can fight, there's no other way to wage a war when the only one in sight that you're sure is not a V.C. is your buddy on your right. When all the wars are over and the battle's finally won, count me only as a soldier who never left his gun with the right to serve my country as the only prize I've won. Sung: Glory, glory Hallelujah Glory, glory Hallelujah His truth goes marching on Copyright Shelby Singleton Music 1971 RG APR99
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!