The Men Behind the Guns (LP版)

The Men Behind The Guns (LP版) - Phil Ochs

Let's drink a toast to the admiral

And here's to the captain bold

And glory more for the commodore

When the deeds of might are told

They stand to the deck with the battle's wreck

When the great shells roar and pound

And never they fear when the foe is near

To lay their orders down

But off with your hats and three times three

For every sailor's son

For the men below who fight the foe

The men behind the guns:

Oh the men behind the guns

Their hearts a-pounding heavy when

They swing to port once more

With never enough of the greenback stuff

They start for the leave ashore

And you'd think perhaps the blue-blouse chaps

Had better clothes to wear

For the uniforms of officers

Could hardly be compared:

Warriors bold with straps of gold

That dazzle like the sun

Outshine the common sailor boys

The lads who serve the guns:

Oh the men behind the guns

Say not a word till the shot is heard

That tells the fight is on

And the angry sound of another round

That says there must be God

Over the deep and the deadly sweep

The fire and the bursting shell

Where the very air is a mad despair

The throes of a living hell

But down and deep in a mighty ship

Unseen by the midday sun

You'll find the boys who make the noise

The lads who serve the guns:

Oh the men behind the guns

And well they know the cyclone blow

Loose from the cannon's steel

The know the hull of the enemy ship

Will quiver with the peal

And the decks will rock with the lightning shock

And shake with the great recoil

While the sea grows red

With the blood of the dead

And swallows up her spoil

But not until the final ship

Has made her final run

Can we give their rest to the very best:

To the lads who serve the guns

Oh the men behind the guns

So Let's drink a toast to the admiral

And here's to the captain bold

And glory more for the commodore

When the deeds of might are told

They stand to the deck with the battle's wreck

When the great shells roar and pound

And never they fear when the foe is near

To lay their orders down

But off with your hats and three times three

For every sailor's son

For the men below who fight the foe

The men behind the guns:

Oh the man behind the gun