Don McLean - 1967 Nineteensixtyseven - A song against war

In my opinion this is the most sad song ever wrote against the madness of war. It´s a simply melody with simply lyrics, but every word hurts so much, bringing tears to my eyes. Please take yourself a few minutes time and listen to one of the greatest songwriters ever lived - and also to one of the greatest accusations in music:

In Nineteen Sixty Seven the draft caught up with me,
me and my pal Joe went off to war.
We might find hero's heaven, but we'd keep the country free.
We would surely win just like before.
Roy Rogers he was on his horse, and Buck Jones drew his gun.
We would surely win of course when the battle was all done.

Nineteen Sixty Seven I came back alone,
they brought Joe back in plastic on the plane.
Nineteen Sixty Seven seems so long ago,
but I can't forget my friend or ease my pain.
His family may forget him, his children may regret him,
his wife may find another and go on.
His picture may grow faded and the world he knew gone jaded
but as long as I shall live I surely know,
I never will forget my buddy Joe.

In Nineteen Sixty Seven, the war was raging on,
our country was divided and reborn.
While I was back at home, I had never left Saigon,
'cause all I got was ridicule and scorn.
This was no place for hero's now, they all seemed to resent me,
They said "Why did you ever go?" I said "Because they sent me."

Nineteen Sixty Seven they buried my friend Joe,
and I was flashing back while people wept.
I thought of how he saved us and I watched the land-mine blow,
and I looked down at his dog-tag that I kept.
You'll always be a young man, you always will be smiling,
you always will be confident and true.
Your picture may grow faded and the world you knew gone jaded,
but as long as I shall live I surely know,
I never will forget my buddy Joe.
Long as I shall live I surely know,
I never will forget you buddy Joe...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Don
• McLean
• Songwriter
• War
• Gun
• 1967
• Peace
• Bomb
• Battle
• Death

[jg4876]

Liberals, Conservatives what a joke. the whole thing has become just useless drivel. You have a bunch of rich people who are conservative in their dogmas (Democrats and Republicans) Throwing landmines at glass houses. Grow up it doesn't matter which party runs the show, either way its a bunch of rich people who have no idea whats going on in the real world until its too late

[cwfoster]

What an incredible song. I've long been a fan of Don McLean, but I never heard this one even though I lived through the sixties. Thanks for posting with the lyrics. Deeply meaningful to any of us who lost people we loved during the war then or now.

[rafhenlow]

@alaxyoung1 You're point being??!! I was born in '46, never took part in any wars. Man have I been blessed. Does this mean that I cannot have a view on war?, that Don cannot put into words others experiences. You have a small mind. Watch the film War Horse to see the absolute stupidity of war, FOR ALL, except the power mad of course, & religious fanatics who have not read what their religion actually teaches. Most are based on peace, love etc.

[KopiteP250505]

"Every other Saturday's my half day off, and it's off to the match I go,

I love to take a stroll along the Anfield Road, me and my old pal Joe."

[zilcheynon]

It's a good thing that war is so terrible, or we might get to enjoy it. Robert E. Lee

[antiquemusique]

Soon to be fulfilled - Psalm 46:9 and Isaiah 2:4 Yes, not so very long from now!!

[Sparksis]

You all can't even stop arguing with like minded people here on this song...... and you're calling for end to wars.. You all are the reason. He is a sage-muse-prophet-beautiful person.

[ShawDAMAN]

@jg4876 +1

[rafhenlow]

@alaxyoung1 AND?

[bronxboy1952]

@alaxyoung1 So what? The horrors of war are not just experienced by those who were there, but also by those who lost loved ones who were there (as in my case). The words of this song hold the same meaning today as they did when the song was written.

[goldteeth14]

Why must there be wars why cant there be peace plz sombofy need to stop starting wars.

[alaxyoung1]

DON MCLEAN NEVER WENT TO VIETNAM