The Willing Conscript — Tom Paxton

Chords and lyrics for The Willing Conscript by Tom Paxton (key of C).

Verse 1

Oh[C] Sergeant, I'm a draftee[F] and I've[C] just [G]arrived in[C] camp
[C]I've come to wear the [F]uniform and [C]join the [G]martial [C]tramp
And I [F]want to do my [C]duty, but one [F]thing I[C] do [D]implore[G]
You must [C]give me lessons, [F]sergeant, for I've [C]never [G]killed [C]before

Verse 2

To[C] do my job [F]obediently is [C]all that [G]I [C]desire
To [C]learn my weapon [F]thoroughly and [C]how to [G]aim and [C]fire
To[F] learn to kill the [C]enemy and [F]then to [C]slaughter [D][G]more
I'll [C]need instruction, [F]sergeant, for I've [C]never [G]killed [C]before

Verse 3

[C]Now there are several [F]lessons that I [C]haven't [G]mastered [C]yet
I [C]haven't got the [F]hang of how to [C]use the [G][C]bayonet
[F]If he doesn't die at [C]once, am I to [F]stick him [C]with it [D][G]more?
Oh, I [C]hope you will be patient, [F]for I've [C]never [G]killed [C]before

Verse 4

Oh, [C]there are rumors in the [F]camp [C]about [G]our [C]enemy
[C]They say that when you [F]see him he looks [C]just like [G]you and [C]me
But [F]you deny it, [C]Sergeant, and [F]you are [C]a man of [D][G]war
So [C]you must give me [F]lessons, for I've [C]never [G]killed [C]before

Verse 5

The [C]hand grenade is [F]something that I [C]just don't [G][C]understand
You've [C]got to throw it [F]quickly or you're [C]apt to [G]lose your [C]hand
Does it [F]blow a man to [C]pieces with its [F]wicked, [C]muffled [D][G]roar?
Oh, I've [C]got so much to [F]learn because I've [C]never [G]killed [C]before

Verse 6

[C]Oh, I want to thank you, [F]Sergeant, for the [C]help you've [G]been to [C]me
[C]For you've taught me how to [F]slaughter and to [C]hate the [G][C]enemy
And I [F]know that I'll be [C]ready when they [F]march me [C]off to [D][G]war
And I [C]know that it won't [F]matter that I've [C]never [G]killed [C]before
[G]And I [C]know that it won't [F]matter that I've [C]never [G]killed [C]before
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