Anthem For Doomed Youth Lyrics

Anthem For Doomed Youth lyrics

[ music: John Lombardo/lyric: John Lombardo adapts Wilfred Owen ]







for whom the bells toll 

when sentenced to die 

the stuttering rifles 

will stifle the cry 

the monstrous anger 

the fear's rapid rattle 

a desert inferno 

kids dying like cattle 



don't tell me 

we're not prepared 

i've seen today's marine 

he's eighteen and he's eager 

he can be quite mean 



no mock'ries for them 

no prayers or bells 

the demented choirs 

the wailing of shells 

the boys holding candles 

on untraveled roads 

the fear spreads like fire 

as shrapnel explodes 



i think it's wrong 

to conscript our youth 

against their will 

when plenty of our citizenry 

really like to kill 



what sign posts will lead 

to armageddon's fires 

what bugles will call them 

from crowded grey shires 

the women sit quiet 

with death on their minds 

a slow dusk descending 

the drawing of blinds 



make the hunters all line up 

it's their idea of fun 

and let those be forgiven 

who never owned a gun 

was it him or me 

or the wailing of the dead 

the laughing soldiers 

cast their lots 

and you can cut the dread