Marilyn Horne - I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier

[Antnelson13]

This was one of the hit songs when my (still living) grandma was born - wow

[FOATKI]

thank you mrs. Horne!

[Posidena]

@jason200912 say your sorry or i will tell your mother whop yo wass

[Posidena]

@Zardoz215 but you should never forget that on this day there are men and women signing up to join the military. and FYI, my father served 24 years. i have always supported MY troops. and to thegolli45 you are right we should never forget. i never will.

[thegolli45]

What a great voice, singing such a great song. Imagine the horrors that were to come when this was written in 1914. We should never forget.

[Zardoz215]

I heard this song for the first time in 1968 while doing a history project in junior high school... it made an impression on me to know there was a real history to the anti war issue... but I got drafted and they didn't seem to agree with this philosophy  in Vietnam but I never forgot the song.

[jason200912]

@Zardoz215 surprised you're sane enough to use this computer without ducking for cover.....sorry i just had to make that joke trolololololol

[Zardoz215]

jason200912 Yeah... shit like you never change do you? Now all of you hypocrites fain support for the troops because the socialist pig that is the president continue the wars you hated before..

[megmconant89]

@jason200912 You appear to be confused. "Duck and cover" was from the COLD war which lasted from the 1950's-1989/92, and was the result of a fear that the commies in the USSR would use atomic weapons on the US. The gentleman whom you are addressing served in VIETNAM, and this song is from the period preceding the US' entry into "The Great War"/WWI. I'm certain it was an easy mistake to make :)

[1405Peanut]

There should be singer like Kate Smith signing this through our country and this song be our national song expressing how we are aganist any war

[wiselionman]

1915 - and people still do not get it

[gto66solstice08]

My Mom & Dad sent me and my grandmother sent her sons AND DAUGHTER (Mom). So who will fight the barbarian? If Mothers were in charge???!!! In today's world, it is the other side's mothers sending the 11 year old kids out to be homocide bombers that must be stopped.

My 5 year old grandson wants to be a Marine. If he still believes that in 15 years, yes I will cry, then salute an American Soldier, just like me.

[eeaagoo]

@gto66solstice08 I totally see where you're coming from: I'm a mum to two boys - the youngest has a heart condition, so probably would never be able to join up even if he wanted to - but my eldest probably could, if he wanted. I wouldn't be happy about it but I wouldn't stop him. Of course I abhor war. I wish with all my heart every parent in the world felt the same sentiments as in this song.  But life, sadly, isn't that simple, is it? If only it was!

[BearyHairy]

This is simply awesome. The beautiful talent of Marilyn with the sensible, memorable and intelligent lyrics of this relevent musical masterpiece sends chills to the spine of the most disampassioned listener. War is NOT the first answer to a problem with another country...it is the very last answer, when diplomacy upon diplomacy has failed. War should never be the first response to a disagreement...no matter how loathesome you feel the other side is. Please people...give peace a chance.

[faunskin]

This is so moving. Its message can be universally understood. What mother (and father) hasn't thought this as they watched their sons (and now daughters too) go off to fight. I wish it were better known today. Thank you for posting it

[newsieslvr]

SO true!

[KayCullen16]

This is so damn sad :(

[mike2moto]

they played this in my history class today cuz we are studying WWI

[GRAYGRAY53]

I have this song on original pianola roll and it's fantastic from 1916. Next year 1917 of course America entered the war !

[Sanernando]

Please! Post the original.

[SonoUnPoeta]

This is fantastic, thanks so much for sharing!