This is My Rifle - An Original Song About War by Mark Maysey

This is a song I wrote back in 1999. It's off my 1st CD titled "At This Point in My Life" and can be found here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/maysey This is also my first You Tube video using still shots to represent a ballad I wrote about the effects of war, and how those images still played out many years after returning home.

This is My Rifle
Words and Music by Mark Maysey


(verse)
well back in sixty nine
I didn't have a care
before they called my number
I chopped off all my hair
said goodbye to Mama
Dad and Uncle Dan
boarded an airplane
and headed off for Nam

(verse)
well he called us to attention
when we stepped off that plane
Checked us off a list
as he called out our names
then he picked up his rifle
and raised it in the air
grabbed his crotch
with his other hand
as we all stood and stared
he said...

(chorus)
this is my rifle
this is my gun
one is for killing
the others for fun
so until this war is over
or until your time is done
this is your rifle
and this one is your gun

(verse)
well thirty years have passed
since I stepped off that plane
the nightmares haven't ended
and neither has the pain
I've drank my share of liquor
and smoked my share of grass
but I can't unload the memories
or these few words from my past

(chorus No. 2)
this is my rifle
this is my gun
one is for killing
the others for fun
so until this war is over
or until my time is done
this is my rifle
and this one is my gun

(verse)
well a dear friend of mine
finally called it quits
they found him one cold morning
laying in a ditch
a bullet through his brain
his rifle at his side
and one old rusted dog tag
dated nineteen sixty nine

verse
when they turned his body over
they found his written note
it wasn't but a few lines
but the last he ever wrote
and when they laid him in his grave
on that cold December day
I took those words he'd written
and I began to play

(repeat 2nd chorus)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• vietnam
• war
• maysey
• peace
• hope
• love
• 1969
• hendrix
• who
• joplin
• dylan
• woodstock
• ptsd
• suicide
• nightmares

[noalittleaboutlot]

Dear Maysey1, thank you for for this beautiful and succinct ballad about what is was like to have been a soldier in the Vietnam War. I had a cousin (my favorite), who was drafted and he never was the same when he came home. This coming May, 2012, my eldest son who will be 20 by then, is leaving for boot camp in OK. Solely his decision, he is a EMT and will further his training as a medic; I am both both proud and scared to death. Anyway, a great song and I will check out the rest of work.

[Maysey1]

thank you for sharing this comment and taking the time. I'm sincerely wishing you and your loved ones well in the days and years to follow. Mark

[librich]

The point is not whether this is anti-war or not. As an amateur military historian who never made it into the military this seems to be a pretty accurate picture of what combat can do to a person. I imagine that most career soldiers would tell you that even when war might be needed the toll is terrible. That is why we do not need to enter into it lightly and we need to support the vets whether we agree with the war or not. Thanks for a good song.

[Maysey1]

thank you for the intelligent comment and taking the time to watch and listen.

[ArmA2Films]

Am I the only one who is not anti-war who thinks this song is damn good?

[Maysey1]

nope! there's others merely appreciated from a songwriters standpoint of just sharing some stories of the past, it's been an interesting blog though here though, I could almost write a little book and call it "This is My Rifle", maybe include a few other stories from those who survived it all, the veterans hospital are still full of them. thanks for stopping by and sharing your comment here, I sure appreciate it.

[Maysey1]

I happen to think it's a good thing for many, myself included.

[Akeatingphotography]

No more Weed for you !

[guruofpiano]

Awesome work here!!!  Thumbs up!!! Excellent my friend, thank you..

[LikeABabyKangaroo]

It's a great song, it really has a story in it. Very touching

[ucamper08]

my father was waiting his turn when he got out of college. but dont worry his ass hole nbrother lied and called the draft board to save his job and sacrificed his own BROTHER war is a sickness i want no part of.! written by a son aof na vietnam war hero in my eyes, 2 purple hearts and a bronze star. now he rests in eau claire mighigan still waiting for the V A check?

[glubbygook]

this is a good song, im joining the marine corps soon as i graduate highschool

[atli1000]

Thank you for this! I was 25th Inf. It seems like we are the only ones who still care. I will never forget!

[jasonNsam4ver]

excellent... thank you.....

[zippofy]

love the song, who cares if its anti-war or not, in the end its a matter of opinion. funny how songs can calm people. will deffinately be back to listen to this!

[DukeOfTennessee117]

@Maysey1 Non the less....