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Soldier Song

from Welcome to the Revolution by Kyp Harness

/

lyrics

SOLDIER SONG

When they awakened the elderly man in his cell
He looked up from his sleep in surprise
“Today is the day of your judgment,” they said
As he stood and rubbed the sleep from his eyes

They took him at gunpoint down through the hall
To the room where the judges were waiting
And they gazed with disgust as he came through the room
But he could feel none of their hatred

“You are charged,” said the judge, “with your part in these crimes
Of the darkest atrocity
With your evil intent you have blackened the name
Of all humanity

“You have traveled in the ranks of the coldest of men
You’ve shown no mercy or shame
You have murdered the innocent with indifferent skill
And you’ve robbed all good men of their faith

“You’ve served under tyrants so wicked and vain
And you’ve carried out each of their threats
And for this most unforgivable of crimes
We sentence you now to your death”

The room it was silent as the old man stood
And heard what the judges had said
And a broken dry sigh escaped from his throat
As he slowly rose his head

“These charges you lay against me are true,”
He said as he folded his hands
“I have killed in cold blood without guilt or remorse
At the service of those in command

“For I was a good soldier, loyal and strong
And I fulfilled all my duties unafraid
And I’ve known the contentment of a job well done
As I rested at the end of my day

“And I never once questioned the commands I was given
And I never once questioned the powers that ruled
And if I must be condemned for this
Then so must all of you”

The judge turned his head quickly away
The jury and the crowd did the same
And no-one could look as the air grew still
And they took the old soldier away

And in the night a shot rang out
And in the night the soldier died
And a long black could rose up through the night
Until it filled the sky

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credits

from Welcome to the Revolution, released September 2, 2014

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Kyp Harness Toronto, Ontario

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