War Widow - Country Joe McDonald

'Twas with a heart of leaden woe

Poor Alphonze went to war;

And though it’s true he did not know

What he was fighting for

He grieved because unto Marie

He’d been but three weeks wed:

Tough luck!

Another three and he

Was listed with the dead

Marie was free if she would fain

Another spouse to choose;

But if she dared to wed again

Her pension she would lose

And so to mourn she did prefer

And widow to remain

Like many dames whose husbands were

Accounted with the slain

Yet she was made for motherhood

With hips and belly broad

And should have born a bonny brood

To render thanks to God

Ah!

If with valour Alphonze hadn’t

Fallen in the fray

Proud Marie would have been a glad

Great grandmother today

Yet maybe it is just as well

She has not bred her kind;

The ranks of unemployment swell

And flats are hard to find

For every year the human race

Richly we see increase

And wonder how they’ll find a place

Well, that’s the curse of Peace

So let us hail the gods of war

With joy and jubilation

Who favour foolish mankind for

They prune the population;

And let us thank the hungry guns

Forever belching doom

That slaughter bloodily our sons

To give us elbow room