Buffy Sainte Marie - "Universal Soldier"

[bckm54]

Many of you I disagree with. But reading the comments, most of them have perspective and are not the usual "fuck your opinion" thing one sees so often on youtube. Maybe THAT is the message. Maybe the message is that there is hope. And where there is hope, there is life.

Peace.

[rhytonen]

Jain actually - sorry

[rhytonen]

Um... that religion's name is spelled "Djain"

[aaron4wilkins]

Buffy Sainte Marie is the original composer of this song,not Donavan Lietch

[krkraz]

The song may have a wrong idea. But the analyses of the needed aggressions of other people has a useless WIll...

[ETwoDTwo]

The people who comment on this video say its a great inspiration. I think it's awful. It condemns the soldiers, saying they are doing something wrong. Well to all of you anti war people who think all of Earths problems can be solved without bloodshed, you are wrong. I lost my cousin earlier this year in Afghanistan but I accept the fact that he was killing people for his country; and died because someone else was doing it for their own.

[NativeAmerican4Life]

@ETwoDTwo I'm deeply sorry for your loss :(

Thank you for your comment though :) It's always welcome to hear from a different perspective and I respect you for your beliefs. I believe, however, this song is not to "condemn" soldiers, but to show that they, too, are victims. They indeed fight and die for us all, but the song also explains that we were taught to think that way - making it so there is no alternative to resolve international or civil conflict, and so soldiers must fight.

[HeWhoAvoidsTheLight]

@ETwoDTwo...yeah just think...if your cousin never signed up to invade countries for the army he wouldnt have been blown up by a man protecting his wife and children...he would be alive now. That is what this song is about.

[esgietheqroue]

@hurrpadurp So, a song which has the explicit message that it is wrong to try and bring about peace by becoming a soldier, inspired you to become a soldier?

Wow. Just wow.

[StraightFromtheVinyl]

I had a really strange dream last night.

I dreampt that she was my guitar teacher.

[DWSimmy]

She's an amazing person. Even after she had her career pushed to the edge in the 70's, she kept going, and she doesn't even sound that bitter about it.

[dklotzle]

Buffy did write this song .Somewhere on You Tube is a vid of her talking about how and when she wrote it .If you look up the title on Google or in the liner noted on a Donovan recording you'll see her lister as the author !

[mrjokioo]

@NativeAmerican4Life doesn't matter where she's from. War and death knows no borders and neither do bards and peace-writers.

[mrjokioo]

Out of all the songs I know, this is my favorite to play at campfires, even though the people there dislike anti-war songs and hippie-music.

[KyleOgilvie1]

this woman is the most amazing women in the world. Stand UP for Native Rights. I am truly inspried by Buffy Sainte Marie. I will not be silnet .what my people did to these amazing people is something to be ashamed of. and i have always andd always will stand up for native rights. becaust they have a right to be natives.

[a0coocoobrain0o0o0o]

i sang this song for remembrance day in choir and otherwise i would never have heard of this song and that would suck

[WhyteHype3]

A Jain*

[planetlychee]

I saw her sing this at the Calgary Folk Fest. She's 70, and her energy was amazing. It was an unreal experience.

This song is so truthful it just makes your heart ache!

[glrcmptn]

don't think soldier is to blame. and if it be their fault it's by default. war is a racket.

[YourGodStalin]

War is the only way to achieve peace, the only way to have peace is for all of humanity to die, the only thing that could kill all humans is war.

[prevertman]

@YourGodStalin only the dead have seen the end to war....Plato

[brandystaubin75]

awesome buffy!

[2indulgent]

For enemy soldiers facing each other in the desperate and insane heat of battle, war is one spark of God extinguishing another spark of God, because our acculturated beliefs do not allow us to face who and what we are...All of us.

[tribegoddess]

I have heard war, I have seen war, I have felt war, I have smelled the entrails of those who used to be my friends, and now 44 years later I dream of war. It makes me sick, but beyond sweating, all I can do is cry and wish I had never gone. Now I don't wish it on anyone. Fred Jack, a disabled Viet Nam Veteran

[ibonyun]

@tribegoddess Hopefully, with more stories like yours, each generation will get closer and closer to eliminating war. This song is pointed right at you, I'm afraid. Let your mistakes be a powerful lesson for the young people in danger of following a similar path today. But at some point you must forgive yourself. May peace be with you.

[jadekoolkat]

Awesome song, I have the live cover version sung by Donovan. First time I've heard the original and I like them both.

[RaccoonGoon93]

That chick is HAWT.

[ChrisnSnoop]

@NativeAmerican4Life

Well a true American, since she's Native to the Americas. =)

[Algonac9]

The sad reality is there will always be war: because there will continue to be those who will want to come to your house, your land, your country and rape,kill, enslave,or take your stuff. Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you desire peace, prepare for war) Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus (390 CE)

"Therefore, he who wishes peace, should prepare war; he who desires victory, should carefully train his soldiers; he who wants favorable results, should fight relying on skill, not on chance"

[ToddBoyle]

Buffy you are the Universal woman, the universal mother. You pierced my heart. We will never meet but to me, you are my wife. You are my mother. I worked my job, I did my work for people lesser than you.

[justicelut]

what a beautiful voice!!

[ShadowCrashed81]

MARY HAMILTON! That's what it sounds like.

[zroppian]

He's the universal soldier and he really is to blame...

[benytink]

ye me too!! tnx for the comments.

[benytink]

just watched ron paul in san francisco brilliant speech 3 days ago,he quotes this record,a great man,and a great record!!! liberty forever,end all wars.

[BenjaminWirtz]

@benytink

I watched the video of the speech which is how I came to look up this song.

[TMKchld]

Universal, and Eternal...Excellent song...TY for posting.

[perki1952]

I heard her live at The Riddu Riddu Festival a year ago. She was still a great little artist! And still young !  :)

[TMKchld]

@perki1952 maybe they're listening Now...

[perki1952]

@TMKchld I`m afraid not ! Young men and women (!) in my country are volunteering to fight in Afghanistan . And the authorities try to introduce a ( American inspired ?) Warrior Culture to my country ! It`s sad....

[TMKchld]

@perki1952 Very sad...I'm so sorry...I know that in the US, young people seem to be finally getting this message, but I'm certainly not speaking for our govt.

[st1nee]

This is so beautiful. The lyric must be the reason I'm pacifist. 

[TakeApart]

I can't believe she isn't more well known in her motherland. What a pity, they should be playing this song in school.

[dutchbonnet]

Brilliant version of a brilliant song. Thanks for posting. I'm afraid you've got the words a bit garbled in your intro. The worst blunder is: 'And he knows he shouldnt ve killed', which should be 'And he knows he shouldn't kill'. 'Jane' should be 'Jain'. Google the title and the word 'lyrics' and you'll get the right version.

[ThinkInNewAreas]

Nothing much has changed - sadly enough ;-(

[timtyrellisgay]

i was very happy to discover this song a few months ago, as I am too young to have been around when it came out. Also very glad to know that something this absolutely brilliant came out of our native's culture. The passion in her voice, and the lyrics make this a work of art - far beyond most music. The saddest truth is that after 45 years it may not have even made a dent in the actions of our governments.

[bbbartolo]

I WISH this would get outdated. Unfortunately it's as timely as ever. But always haunting, and dead on.

Anybody know where I can get lyrics for "Native North American Child?" Not anywhere on the net I can find.

[TherapyFromStrangers]

great song! - Therapy From Strangers.

[berrygoodstuff]

No one sang like Buffy - un to herself. One of a kind.

[barbj7121]

i love this song , my mom would sing it around the house all time

[khsolberg]

Let us sing it with your mother!

[TheWERNERbeinhart]

A wonderful sound in her voice, natural and sensitive. I would like to sing with her together. The best version I have ever heard ! - Wernerbonehard

[Borgbull]

Ich dachte immer, jeder Mensch sei gegen den Krieg, bis ich herausfand, das es welche gibt die dafür sind, besonders die, die nicht hingehen müssen.

[wondertwn5843]

You're both right. I just heard Amy Goodman's interview with Buffy on Democracy Now from Oct. 12. She was born in Canada and adopted as a baby. She was raised in Maine and Massachusetts. She's lived in Hawaii the past 40 years. She's a Canadian, but also an American citizen. She voted for Obama in the last election.

[Harpenfarker]

@wondertwn5843: "She voted for Obama in the last election?"....How the hell do these artists expect we'll be able to afford buying their music when THEY vote for people that believe IN ADDITION TO DOING ALL OUR THINKING they should be in control of our income and spending as well?......I just don't know!?

[greener59]

@Harpenfarker If she voted for Obama she's obviously intelligent.

[Harpenfarker]

@greener59: Youve gotta mean an "INTELLECTUAL IDIOT"

[prevertman]

@greener59  If shee voted for Obama then she voted FOR WAR 10,000 more troops and 30,000 mercenary's

[iTubeQQQQQ]

@prevertman She's Canadian.

[prevertman]

@wondertwn5843 since she voted for Obama SHE voted FOR WAR

[deanna6812]

A truly beautiful & moving song, written and performed by an amazing Canadian from the Aboriginal community. It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it - thank you for posting it!

[rambassbone]

@deanna6812 She did not write this song, but she did perform it very well.

[deanna6812]

@rambassbone My understanding is that she did write this song. Who do you believe wrote it? Perhaps I'm mistaken.

[rambassbone]

@deanna6812 Oh no I stand corrected, I got the release year wrong. I thought Donovan was first, but Buffy released in 64 with Donovan releasing it the year after.

[RosenGary]

@deanna6812 I actually prefer Donovan's rendition. Oddly, he changed "Dachau" to "Lebau".

[dolanbetney]

@deanna6812 It was written by a Glaswegian hippy. If you've ever been to Glasgow you would undertsand

[jaytf123]

A true American. Most wars are stupid and young people die and parents lose children.

[ShadowCrashed81]

@jaytf123 War is a useful tool. Peopl will die regardless.

[MoaiMaea]

All wars are stupid. No exception.

[devourment666]

For fuck sakes Buffy. Did you record vocals sitting on a fucking washing machine?

[rowdy49]

Donavan had a hit with this in the 60's, good version.

[ZadZadrack]

This song is Buffy's greatest legacy to the entire HUMAN RACE. And Buffy, YOU ARE THE QUEEN OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN RACE whose love for Mother Earth and respect for Nature & Animals alike had been as poweful as the words of your song.

[marisashop]

Im doing this in my reading class right now......this song is in a school book :)

[bignosycat]

Many thanks I have made a playlist of the songs you have posted. Have you heard of Serena Ryder? She sounds like Buffy I would love her to sing some of her songs.

[bignosycat]

thank you for posting this song - I had album "Buffy Sainte Marie" greatest Hits - will see if I can get a CD of it -

I used to know all the words on this album - what memories I have!

[janluv999]

Amazing. I'm 56 and never really knew anything about her music (grew up on AM top 40). I was interested in her Joni Mitchell cover of Circle Game (which I really like)--I love her voice. I'm open to suggestions of which songs and which albums I should start with.

[lumpagogo]

Great song, to be sure but it requires more instumentation, esp. percussion.

[InfiniteMusic]

The song is in the style of traditional folk music.

Electric instrumentation and percussion are inappropriate for this type of music. They would ruin it.

[lumpagogo]

To GF In:

Some folq like candy and soy-sauce pie; some do not.

[hit004541]

Her lyrics are so amazing, all of her songs are clever and make you think!

[guyglowmore1]

give thanks. hoh

[nightravenonline]

Buffy sainte marie

where is shen ow ? I reemmber her from soldier blue when I was a child

good voice ! - good girl !

good indians,,, hopefully now äll hear the truth how white man slaugthered the native americans., the real americans

[Daytona1099]

Nice tune. I wish someone would post "Mister Can't You See" which was her biggest and only Top 40 hit.

[bigeeezy]

great classic

[pruandbernroc]

Great Song! Too bad we didn't listen years ago...

[leeward46]

as it was when I first heard it in the 60's

it will be when I am dead and gone

I can only pass this on to my grandchildren.........

[leeward46]

as it was when I first heard it in the 60's

it will be when I am dead and gone

I can only pass this on to my grandchildren.........

[MoaiMaea]

And too bad we still don’t ...

[irsister]

@MoaiMaea : Fred - you were doing your "duty" for your country - please don't crucify yourself because of the sins of your Government! But I understand how you feel, You are a human feeling person, unlike the people who ordered you out there!

[MoaiMaea]

Who is Fred? And who exactly ordered whom out where?

[LostChickenExtremePi]

the song was off tune at moments lulz...