Little Boy Soldiers - The Jam, Peter Wilson

Its funny how you never knew what my name was

Our only contact was a form for the election

These days I find that you don’t listen

These days I find that we’re out of touch

These days I find that I’m too busy

So why the attention now you want my assistance —

What have you done for me

You’ve gone and got yourself in trouble

Now you want me to help you out

These days I find that I can’t be bothered

These days I find that its all too much

To pick up a gun and shoot a stranger

But I’ve got no choice so here I come — war games

I’m up on the hills, playing little boy soldiers

Reconnaissance duty up at 5:30

Shoot shoot shoot and kill the natives

You’re one of us and we love you for that

Think of honour, Queen and country

You’re a blessed son of the British Empire

God’s on our side and so is Washington

Come out on the hills with the little boy soldiers

Come on outside — I’ll sing you a lullaby

Or tell a tale of how goodness prevailed

We ruled the world — we killed and robbed

The fucking lot — but we don’t feel bad

It was done beneath the flag of democracy

You’ll believe and I do — yes I do — yes I do —

Yes I do —

These days I find that I can’t be bothered

To argue withthem well what’s the point

Better to take your shots and drop down dead

Then they send you home in a pine overcoat

With a letter to your mum

Saying find enclosed one son — one medal and a note —

To say he won