Phil Ochs – Chaplain of the War

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God bless the men who’ve learned to put their lives upon the line,

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and God bless the men who’ve learned to sip the sacrifical wine,

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God bless the men who’ll murder in th service of the Lord;

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Blessings from the Chaplain of the War.

Give thanks to the parents who taught them as a boy they must obey

Give thanks to the church who taught them how to pose and how to pray

Give thanks to the schools who taught them well what they are fighting for

Blessings from the Chaplain of the War.

I know it will be hard, your finger on the trigger might refrain

But someone’s dealt the cards and the Bible says you’re clearly not to blame

Just think about the past, all the Christian guns who’ve carried on before

with the Blessings of the Chaplain of the War.

The enemy is godless, the holy way is one they never knew

Forgive them as you kill them, believe me, they know not what they do

And the prisoners you take, you can try to lead them to the Christian shore

now Blessings from the Chaplain of the War.

Now you may find it strange that a man of peace is asking you to fight

But the church is known to change, embracing half the wrongs it hopes to right

I can’t describe the times, I’ve wrestled with my conscience to the core

now Blessings from the Chaplain of the War.

If the worst comes to be and you crumble in the misty cloud of pain

I’ll fall down to my knees and beg for every mercy on your name

And your soul will be safe for heaven knows the burdens that you bore

with the Blessings from the Chaplain of the War.

When you go for broke and the taking of a life may leave you lost

Rising from the smoke is the all-inspiring vision of the cross

Sending you the strength to show you that you can struggle more

with the blessings from the Chaplain of the War.

The commandments are torn we’ll teach them when the victory fire glows

Now my collar is worn just above my military clothes

The religion of the flag, the servant of the saviour and the sword

Now Blessings from the Chaplain of the War.

1966