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Universal Soldier Lyrics
Artist: Donovan
He's five foot-two, and he's six feet-four,
He fights with missiles and with spears.
He's all of thirty-one, and he's only seventeen,
He's been a soldier for a thousand years.
He'a a Catholic, a Hindu, an Atheist, a Jain,
A Buddhist and a Baptist and a Jew.
And he knows he shouldn't kill,
And he knows he always will,
Kill you for me my friend and me for you.
And he's fighting for Canada,
He's fighting for France,
He's fighting for the USA,
And he's fighting for the Russians,
And he's fighting for Japan,
And he thinks we'll put an end to war this way.
And he's fighting for Democracy,
He's fighting for the Reds,
He says it's for the peace of all.
He's the one who must decide,
Who's to live and who's to die,
And he never sees the writing on the wall.
But without him,
How would Hitler have condemned him at Labau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone,
He's the one who gives his body
As a weapon of the war,
And without him all this killing can't go on.
He's the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame,
His orders come from far away no more,
They come from here and there and you and me,
And brothers can't you see,
This is not the way we put an end to war.
Related:
Donovan Lyrics
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Donovan - Epistle To Dippy Lyrics
Donovan - Lalena Lyrics
Donovan - There Is A Mountain Lyrics
Donovan - Writer In The Sun Lyrics
Donovan - Yellow Is The Color Lyrics
Donovan - Young Girl Blues Lyrics
Comments/Interpretations
Pity the world isnt listening.
I totally agree its too bad the people of the world dont listen or care
More of the world needs to hear this song. you can bet if that tool Bono got hold of it, we'd take more notice. sad really.
Donovan may have recorded the song but the lyrics were written by Buffy Sainte Marie.
But without him how would Hitler have condemned him at Lw'ow
Lw'ow was a german concentration camp!!!
The song's been out there since the '60's: what a pity the world's politicians are more interested in meglomania than in serving the needs of their constituencies.
I loved this song when it came out in the 60's. I like it better than 'The Eve of Destruction' that came out the same time. I always thought this one was more important. And, still noone is noticing/listening... sigh.
It's "Dachau" not "Labau"
Written by Buffy Sainte-Marie I believe
in reference to Sara's comment, yes Buffy St-Marie's original & The Highwaymen's cover did contain a reference to the natzi work camp at Dachau, but for some reason Donavan chose to replace it with the fictional location "Labou", shame on him
Bob is correct - these lyrics aren't by Donovan although he probably made some money from them. They are by Buffy St Marie and the German camp should read Dachau.
Is Labau not a real place then? I thought it was Liebau, a German military training facility for the Hitler Youth.
As sweet as the song is I compare it to the satire song "We've got to do something" from Forgetting Sarah Marshall and for those who don't know that song is making fun of songs like this one. Its putting forward an idealistic argument without any understanding or substance. If every soldier and police officer refused to pick up a gun and every soldier could trust other nations not to invade them, and police officers trust criminals not to commit crimes then yes.. that could put an end to war. But you can't change human nature, and to purely blame soldiers and suggest they all "just don't go to war" shows a real lack of understanding of the world. My opinion "Eve of Destruction" is a far better song that captures the essence and frustration of war in an accurate way as opposed to this idealistic hippy utopian anthem.
Whats up with you people ... I was there in late 60's and early 70's ... dont do social networking and never will ... lets enjoy what we do and forget the snides ... lets enjoy what we like and what's your comment and f%$k your satire ... if we want to hear satire we can always listen to your master ... Sarah Marshall ... Whatever her name is ... maaybe not ... Afghansti Blues Beefheart band ... or DKs ... kill the poor (unfortunates) .... so much for all of this ... I thought his was a Donovan link ... and he's still alive ... just
Is there a reason he names all religions but the islam? or is he informed there are only muslim terrorists and no muslim universal soldiers?
Great song.(Period)
The first few comments cause me slight turmoil. It is not that people aren't listening, it is that people are not DOING. Plenty of people listen, why this was one of the most popular songs in the world in the 60's! Hundreds of thousands of people could sing all the lyrics by heart right to you! unfortunately it does not matter, because no one actually did anything with their understanding of his words. People listen, they're just too timid to care.
i thought the song was about the devil?
Jerry said " Its putting forward an idealistic argument without any understanding or substance. If every soldier and police officer refused to pick up a gun and every soldier could trust other nations not to invade them, and police officers trust criminals not to commit crimes then yes.. that could put an end to war" but he missed the point, the idea is that soldiers everywhere refuse to fight, or more accurately people everywhere ignore the commands from the leaders to conduct war. He is correct, it is idealistic and human greed won't go away so war won't leave either.
Yes it's idealistic, but a mans' reach must exceed his grasp....and he must keep reaching for something better
This page should be taken down if the owner refuses to edit it to include the author of the song - Buffy St Marie.
"How would Hitler have condemned him at Labau?" ...???
This is incorrect and makes no sense. Buffy St. Marie wrote the song, and she wrote this line as follows:
"How would Hitler have condemned them at Dachau?"
INNIT!
Donovan's lyric refers not to Dachau or Lw'ow or Liebau or any fictional city. It refers to the city of Libau in Latvia where thousands of Jews were exterminated in the dunes of Skede.
Who gives a shit? This is such a beautiful song.
i want to cry
i am moist
Why dont people "CATCH THE WIND" instead of fighting "DONOVAN" sings against the war but NOBODY listen's to his words!! COME ON GIVE IT A TRY,PEACE is what this world needs!!We are only on this Earth for a short while so why not make the most of it. If you have got your RELIGION keep it to yourself and enjoy it but please dont impose it on others. Have a good day
I'm 70 years old and remember Donnovan well but never really listened closely to the words.of a Universal Soldier. I was driving from Perth to Kalgoorlie the other day and the song came on the radio and I really listened and had to shed multiple tears.
The sadness, the truth and it still continues.
Universal Soldier is probably the best protest song ever written in the protest music history. This very brave and beautiful song written by Buffy St.Marie and yet developped by Donovan's unique finger picking style and voice so to its final shape.
donovan recorded this but did not write it. the original artsist who wrote and performed is is Buffy Saint Marie