Draft Dodger Rag

Words & Music:

Phil Ochs

 

D                                      E

I'm just a typical American boy from a typical American town.

    A7                                                      D

I believe in God and Senator Dodd and in keeping old Castro down.

    D                                     E

And when it came my time to serve, I knew better dead than red.

    A7                                                     D

But when I got to my ol' draft board, buddy this is what I said:

 

CHORUS:

            D                                            E

"Sarge, I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen and I always carry a purse.

A7                                                             D

I got eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat, and my asthma's getting worse.

    D                                          E

Oh, think of my career, my sweetheart dear, my poor old invalid aunt.

           A7                                                     D

Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm going to school and I'm working in a defense plant.

 

I got a dislocated disc, and a racked up back, I'm allergic to flowers and bugs,

And when the bombshell hits I get epileptic fits & I'm addicted to a thousand drugs.

I got the weakness woes, I can't touch my toes, I can hardly reach my knees.

And if the enemy came close to me, I'd probably start to sneeze."

 

CHORUS:

 

I hate Chou En Lai and I hope he dies, but one thing you gotta see,

That someone's gotta go over there, and that someone isn't me.

So I wish you well, Sarge, give 'em hell!  Yeah, kill me a thousand or so.

And if you ever get a war without blood and gore, well I'll be the first to go.

 

CHORUS: