Who killed Vietnam? No not I, said Uncle Sam.
Not I said the man whose planes showered down that Napalm rain.
I'm a freedom lovin' guy but in every war people have to die
Sure I didn't have to go, they'd just sem someone else you know
don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin' orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I, said Uncle Sam.
Not I said the man whose ship made that long and lonesome trip
Crossed 10,000 miles of water to go there and protect our borders
We shelled their shore, yes it's true; maybe shelled some people too,
But don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin' orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I said Uncle Sam
Not I said the combat soldier, he's 18 but looks much older,
Sure I seen 'em face to face - them Viet Cong was all over the place
Shoot 'em, stab 'em, gouge their eyes; each dead Commie's worth a prize
But don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin' orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I said Uncle Sam
Not I said Westmoreland, I only wish this war would end.
I know how to end it fast, I need more bombs and planes and gas.
I need more troops, yes I do, we have to see our committments thru
But don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin'orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I said Uncle Sam
Not I said Defense Secretary Bob, you know bein' a dove's real hard job
I only wish this war would cease so I stay here and work for peace.
I'm helping to win it, yes it's true, but that's the best thing I can do
Don't say murder, don't say kill, I gave orders against my will.
Not I said Secretary Rusk, his face all twisted in disgust,
We fought for peace and liberty to try to keep Vietnam free;
So what if everybody's dead, I always said better dead than red.
Don't say murder, don't say kill, I gave the orders against my will.
Not I said the man next door; sure I hate this stupid war,
But the president knows what to do, so what if what he says ain't true.
We've got to stop them across the waters, or they'll come here and rape our daughters.
Don't say murder, don't say kill, we had to do it, it was God's will.
Not I said LBJ, I always stayed so far away;
I can't stand the sight of blood or being bogged down in Asian mud.
I hate war and I hate strife, I hate taking another man's life,
But if any man goes against my will, I give the order to KILL KILL KILL
WHO KILLED VIETNAM? NO NOT I, SAID UNCLE SAM.
Not I said the man whose planes showered down that Napalm rain.
I'm a freedom lovin' guy but in every war people have to die
Sure I didn't have to go, they'd just sem someone else you know
don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin' orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I, said Uncle Sam.
Not I said the man whose ship made that long and lonesome trip
Crossed 10,000 miles of water to go there and protect our borders
We shelled their shore, yes it's true; maybe shelled some people too,
But don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin' orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I said Uncle Sam
Not I said the combat soldier, he's 18 but looks much older,
Sure I seen 'em face to face - them Viet Cong was all over the place
Shoot 'em, stab 'em, gouge their eyes; each dead Commie's worth a prize
But don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin' orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I said Uncle Sam
Not I said Westmoreland, I only wish this war would end.
I know how to end it fast, I need more bombs and planes and gas.
I need more troops, yes I do, we have to see our committments thru
But don't say murder, don't say kill, I was followin'orders against my will
Who killed Vietnam? No not I said Uncle Sam
Not I said Defense Secretary Bob, you know bein' a dove's real hard job
I only wish this war would cease so I stay here and work for peace.
I'm helping to win it, yes it's true, but that's the best thing I can do
Don't say murder, don't say kill, I gave orders against my will.
Not I said Secretary Rusk, his face all twisted in disgust,
We fought for peace and liberty to try to keep Vietnam free;
So what if everybody's dead, I always said better dead than red.
Don't say murder, don't say kill, I gave the orders against my will.
Not I said the man next door; sure I hate this stupid war,
But the president knows what to do, so what if what he says ain't true.
We've got to stop them across the waters, or they'll come here and rape our daughters.
Don't say murder, don't say kill, we had to do it, it was God's will.
Not I said LBJ, I always stayed so far away;
I can't stand the sight of blood or being bogged down in Asian mud.
I hate war and I hate strife, I hate taking another man's life,
But if any man goes against my will, I give the order to KILL KILL KILL
WHO KILLED VIETNAM? NO NOT I, SAID UNCLE SAM.
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Pubblicato su Broadside #88 Jan 1968
L'autore di questi versi propone di cantarli su un semplice motivo improvvisato (nel Broadside viene riportato lo spartito) ad lib. per le parole di questa canzone (altrimenti, scrive, potete usate una vostra musica originale).
Strofa per strofa la canzone elenca i colpevoli dell'escalation in Vietnam: dal soldato diciottenne al presidente Johnson, passando per il segretario alla difesa Robert McNamara, il segretario di stato Dean Rusk e la maggioranza silenziosa degli americani indifferenti alla guerra finché non li tocca da vicino.