Malvina Reynolds — We Hate to See Them Go

Last night I had a lovely dream I saw a big parade with ticker tape galore And men were marching there The like I'd never seen before Oh the bankers and the diplomats are going in the army Oh happy day! I'd give my pay to see them on parade Their paunches at attention and their striped pants at ease They've gotten patriotic and they're going overseas We'll have to do the best we can and bravely carry on So we'll just keep the laddies1 here to manage while they're gone Oh, oh, we hate to see them go The gentlemen of distinction in the army The bankers and the diplomats are going in the army It seemed too bad to keep them from the wars they love to plan We're all of us contented that they'll fight a dandy war They don't need propaganda, they know what they're fighting for They'll march away with dignity and in the best of form And we'll just keep the laddies here to keep the lassies1 warm Oh, oh, we hate to see them go The gentlemen of distinction in the army The bankers and the diplomats are going in the army We're going to make things easy 'cause it's all so new and strange We'll give them silver shovels when they have to dig a hole And they can sing in harmony when answering the roll They'll eat their old K-rations from a hand-embroidered box And when they die, we'll bring them home, and bury them in Fort Knox Oh, oh, we hate to see them go The gentlemen of distinction in the army