I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier

by Michael Weston King

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1.
In Time 03:51
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IN TIME (MichaelWweston King) In time we’ll find forgiveness In time we’ll understand In time we’ll learn to love them Even though they tore up our land Who will wipe us, who will clean us Who will hide us, who will feed us Not Mohammed no not Jesus Or the ones who came to save us IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME We live below the flight path I lie awake and I can hear Clouds parted by the rockets Shattered stars that land so near Sound the bull horns, light the candles Draw the curtain bolt the door Come and shelter here beside me They cant hurt you any more IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME Some are seeking retribution Most just doing what they’re told They don't have a reason They’re just boys, bought and sold down the river, down the gutter their blood and tears flow down the drain, some will hope for Redemption some just hope to kill the pai���n �� IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME When this feeble life is over And time for me will be no more All the victories, all the failures They won’t matter anymore Now faith is something I’ve no faith in One man’s faith is another mans death There really is no one to cling to When we draw our final breath IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME He spiked the drinks of the working classes Then threw up down the party dress Now a black knight in the white house Is gonna try and clean up his mess Tell the hit man not to miss him Tell the judge to send him down He broke the will of men and women He brought a plague upon this town IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME, IN TIME
2.
I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier 04:17
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I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier (Lyrics by Alfred Bryan, Music by Michael Weston King) Ten million soldiers to the war have gone, Who may never return again. Ten million mothers’ hearts must break For the ones who died in vain. Head bowed down in sorrow In her lonely years, I heard a mother murmur through her tears “I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier, I brought him up to be my pride and joy, Who dares to put a rifle on his shoulder, To shoot some other mother’s darling boy? Let nations talk through their troubles, It’s time to put the sword and gun away, There’d be no war today, If mothers all would say, “I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.” What victory can cheer a mother’s heart, When she looks upon her empty home? What victory can bring her back All she cared to call her own? Let each mother answer In the years to be, Remember that my boy belongs to me “I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier, I brought him up to be my pride and joy, Who dares to put a rifle on his shoulder, To shoot some other mother’s darling boy? Let nations talk through their troubles, It’s time to put the sword and gun away, There’d be no war today, If mothers all would say, “I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.”
3.
Life Is Fine 04:48
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Life Is Fine  (Words by Langston Hughes, Music by Michael Weston King)   I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn't, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered! I came up twice and cried! If that water hadn't a-been so cold I might've sunk and died. But it was Cold in that water! It was cold! I took the elevator Sixteen floors above the ground. I thought about my baby And thought I would jump down. I stood there and I hollered! I stood there and I cried! If it hadn't a-been so high I might've jumped and died. But it was High up there! It was high! So since I'm still here livin', I guess I will live on. I could've died for love But for livin' I was born Though you may hear me holler, And you may see me cry-- I'll be dogged, sweet baby, If you gonna see me die. Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!
4.
Hey Ma, I'm Coming Home 04:45
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Hey Ma, I'm Coming Home (Michael Weston King) Hey Ma, I got your note It means so much to me that you wrote The news from home About Janie and the girls Can’t believe I missed their birthdays It’s been 3 years in a row I hope they forgive me when their older I hate how I’ve missed them grow How is Jane, does she cope without me? She never signed on for this Guess it’s something she’s grown used to I can still taste her farewell kiss But never more Shall I roam Guess what ma I’m coming home Do you remember the day we signed up? 15 young men proudly lined up You were scared But dad was proud I told you Ma that I’d be all right Polished buttons, polished boots Wore my cap down over my eyes Guess I was hiding from the truth Right now I couldn’t tell you what is true Tell pa it’s not like in his day You never see the whites of their eyes You never see who you’re fighting Death just falls out of the sky And it’s summertime, it always feels like su|mmertime But never more Shall I roam Guess what ma I’m coming home Home where my thought's escaping, Home where my music's playing, Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me So hot here on the tarmac Waiting as the load the crates Me and Jack and Bill and Jimmy I’m still here with all my mates Do you remember Ma, you danced with Jimmy At my 18th birthday do They made such of fuss of you Ma I think Bill quite fancied you Well Ma, I’d better sign off now Time for me to get on that plane My box will soon be loaded And 15 others that all look the same Neatly stacked beside each other Jack’s below me, Bill’s to my right We’re all so tired we could sleep forever No one will wake us on this flight As we dream, dream of coming home But never more Shall I roam I told you Ma I’d be coming home Yes Ma, I’m coming home
5.
Parish Of Rope 05:00
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Parish Of Rope (Paul Hesketh / Oliver Lomax) No faith to fix on our young men No bodies bleeding for the relevant Same faith, same race, Had the police really given chase? Some men have a lot of time to rot Wrapped up in flags beside their cots Palm beats, Psalm horrors Little Tommy’s got ivory dollars, Are you shooting back at England now through love’s disguise The valor pamphlets tell what life you should devise But no-one seems to be moving They’re still kicking edgar allan poe, As I make my way down tonight to the parish of rope All the balladeeers of the pearl swords Turn back to what they can afford Silver bone, Christ casino I roll a dice on my alter ego Ill see your effigy forever and a day Nobody seems to be what they claim Pound note, Freedom vote I saw them waiting at the justice court Did you feel like Harold Wilson on the Morecambe and wise As I found you slowly hanging from your east blood oxford tie I got all t©he pistols I got all the pills to cope As I lay my body down tonight in the parish of rope How many dawns must we wake to learn The rules of engagement now return Old song, kind persuasion I pay no mind for a sovereign nation I saw you bow your head and touch her hand But provincial towns don’t understand Sweet village, picket pictures We need one hundred ruby stitches This is your life would chill you to the bone It would leave you feeling so alive, yet so alone They couldn’t trace our father It was too much for him to cope So someones mising out tonight in the parish of rope No faith to fix on our young men No bodies bleeding for the relevant Same faith, same race, Had the police really given chase? There’s a sleeping revolution in the pages of our minds This land is only matter, and its only a matter of time They wont forgive a soul just stand around and gloat as they send us all victorious to the parish of rope
6.
Cops Of The World 05:34
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Cops of the world (Phil Ochs) Come, get out of the way, boys Quick, get out of the way You'd better watch what you say, boys Better watch what you say We've rammed in your harbor and tied to your port And our pistols are hungry and our tempers are short So bring your daughters around to the port 'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys We're the Cops of the World We pick and choose as please, boys Pick and choose as please You'd best get down on your knees, boys Best get down on your knees We're hairy and horny and ready to shack We don't care if you're yellow or black Just take off your clothes and lie down on your back 'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys We're the Cops of the World Our boots are needing a shine, boys Boots are needing a shine But our Coca-cola is fine, boys Coca-cola is fine We've got to protect all our citizens fair So we'll send a battalion for everyone there And maybe we'll leave in a couple of years 'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys We're the Cops of the World Dump the reds in a pile, boys Dump the reds in a pile You'd better wipe of that smile, boys Better wipe off that smile We'll spit through the streets of the cities we wreck We'll find you a leader that you can't elect Those treaties we sighned were a pain in the neck 'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys We're the Cops of the World Clean the johns with a rag, boys Clean the johns with a rag If you like you can use your flag, boys If you like you can use your flag We've got too much money we're looking for toys And guns will be guns and boys will be boys But we'll gladly pay for all we destroy 'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys We're the Cops of the World Please stay off of the grass, boys Please stay off of the grass Here's a kick in the ass, boys Here's a kick in the ass We'll smash down your doors, we don't bother to knock We've done it before, so why all the shock? We're the biggest and toughest kids on the block 'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys We're the Cops of the World When we butchered your son, boys When we butchered your son Have a stick of our gum, boys Have a stick of our buble-gum We own half the world, oh say can you see The name for our profits is democracy So, like it or not, you will have to be free 'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys We're the Cops of the World
7.
Sounds Of Our Time 04:01
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Sounds Of Our Time (Jim Ford) If you listen you can hear a little childs cry sounds to me like the pangs of hunger listen you can hear all them big guns flire sounds to me like my brothers dying listen you can hear screams down in the street I’ll the bet the heats’ done come and got him, The Sounds of our times ring loud to my mind, and I’ll never get used to the sound i’ll never get used tpo the sound If you listen you can hear the sound of the wind choking on our pollution listen you can hear the rain falling down but it ain’t drowning our revolution if you listen to the sound lord, a mile there in the ground you’ll hear the man mad��e bomb of self-destruction The Sounds of our times ring loud to my mind, think I’ll never get used to this sound said i’ll never get used to the sound said i’ll never get used to the sound Hate, Fear, These are the men lost and found in our society War (war), kill (kill), all we could feel What if nobody would pay their taxes Freedom (freedom), peace (peace), just words they teach in a 4th grade class in school in American history Oh The Sounds of our times ring loud to my mind, think I’ll never get used to the sound said i’ll never get used to the sound said i’ll never get used to the sound
8.
High Price Blues 02:41
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High Price Blues (Music & word - Roosevelt Sykes, additional words, Michael Weston King) I'll tell you something Ain't no joke Our cost of living is keeping me broke Prices going higher Way up higher Prices going so high tell me what are we gonna do Walking the meat market Just about noon Prices so high cow jumped over the moon Prices going higher Yes way up higher Prices going so high, what are we gonna do? Lame is gonna walk Blind is gonna see But these high prices they are killing me Prices going higher Yes way, way up higher Things are going so high, what, baby, can I do? Meat, butter and eggs Getting higher still Don't even get no change from five dollar bill Prices going higher Yes, way up higher No disgrace to be poor but it's a little handy for me Horses and the numbers Odds are still insane Looks like your taxes will erase any gain Prices going higher Yes, way up higher Prices going so high I don't think I will work no more
9.
Is There Anybody Here 02:37
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Is There Anybody Here (Phil Ochs ) Is there anybody here who'd like to change his clothes into a uniform Is there anybody here who thinks they're only serving on a raging storm Is there anybody here with glory in their eyes loyal to the end, whose duty is to die I wanna see him I wanna wish him luck I wanna shake his hand, wanna call his name Put a medal on the man. Is there anybody here who'd like to wrap a flag around an early grave Is there anybody here who thinks they're standing taller on a battle wave Is there anybody here like to do his part soldier to the world and a hero to his heart I wanna see him I wanna wish him luck I wanna shake his hand, wanna call his name Put a medal on the man Is there anybody here proud of the parade who'd like to give a cheer and show they're not afraid I'd like like to ask him what he's trying to defend Oh I'd like to ask him what he thinks he's gonna win Is there anybody here who thinks that following the orders takes away the blame Is there anybody here who wouldn't mind a murder by another name Is there anybody here whose pride is on the line with the honor of the brave and the courage of the blind I wanna see him I wanna wish him luck I wanna shake his hand, wanna call his name Put a medal on the man Is there anybody here so proud of the parade who'd like to give a cheer and show they're not afraid I'd like to ask him what he's trying to defend I'd like to ask him what he thinks he's gonna win Is there anybody here who thinks that following the orders takes away the blame Is there anybody here who wouldn't mind a murder by another name Is there anybody here whose pride is on the line with the honor of the brave and the courage of the blind I wanna see him I wanna wish him luck I wanna shake his hand, ganna call his name Put a medal on the man Medal on the man
10.
In Spain The Dogs Are Too Tired To Bite You 03:47
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In Spain The Dogs Are Too Tired To Bite You (Michael Weston King) The devil rode across my sky Cloven hoofed and withering eye While all around frightened women kissed pictures of Christ Now cloud shapes quickly change their form But the devil hung around for an hour or more And everywhere I looked I saw his eyes Lit by the moon of an eastern sky I called to satan don't take me alive But he just started and to my surprise In the blackness of the darkness he had a twinkle in his eyes I tried to shut out this nightmare scene But I dreamed a dream, a torrid dream Where women shrieked and children screamed And I as I dreamed I too screamed louder As little blue pills and lines of powder Where forced inside my mouth and nose By tattooed boys wearing soldiers clothes But breathe in boy, breathe in deep You think you're dreaming but you're not asleep You are awake and you always have been So feel the pleasure fell the pain See the tears in your mothers eyes You caused them all, you and your lies See those children lost to you They seek you now but your lost too Lost in your self, and your selfish ways With bleeding heart and your purple haze You think you're good you think you're clean But are mine, and you always have been.
11.
I Pity The Poor Immigrant 02:51
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I pity the poor immigrant (Bob Dylan) I pity the poor immigrant Who wishes he would've stayed home Who uses all his power to do evil But in the end is always left so alone That man whom with his fingers cheats And who lies with every breath Who passionately hates his life And likewise, fears his death I pity the poor immigrant Whose strength is spent in vain Whose heaven is like ironsides Whose tears are like rain Who eats but is not satisfied Who hears but does not see Who falls in love with wealth itself And turns his back on me I pity the poor immigrant Who tramples through the mud Who fills his mouth with laughing And who builds his town with blood Whose visions in the final end Must shatter like the glass I pity the poor immigrant When his gladness comes to pass
12.
Simple Song Of Freedom 04:02
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Simple Song Of Freedom (Bobby Darin) Come and sing a simple song of freedom Sing it like you've never sung before Let it fill the air Tell the people everywhere We, the people here, don't want a war. Hey, there, mister black man, can you hear me? I don't want your diamonds or your game I just want to be someone known to you as me And I will bet my life you want the same. Come and sing a simple song of freedom Sing it like you've never sung before Let it fill the air Tell the people everywhere We, the people here, don't want a war. Seven hundred million are ya list'nin'? Most of what you read is made of lies But, speakin' one to one ain't it everybody's sun To wake to in the mornin' when we rise? Come and sing a simple song of freedom Sing it like you've never sung before Let it fill the air Tell the people everywhere We, the people here, don't want a war. Brother Solzhenitsyn, are you busy? If not, won't you drop this friend a line Tell me if the man who is plowin' up your land Has got the war machine upon his mind? Come and sing a simple song of freedom Sing it like you've never sung before Let it fill the air Tell the people everywhere We, the people here, don't want a war. Now, no doubt some folks enjoy doin' battle Like presidents, prime ministers and kings So, let's all build them shelves Where they can fight among themselves Leave the people be who love to sing. Come and sing a simple song of freedom Sing it like you've never sung before Let it fill the air Tell the people everywhere We, the people here, don't want a war. I say … let it fill the air … Tellin' people everywhere … We, the people here, don't want a war.

about

A protest album for the 21st Century.

5 new songs of social consciousness from the pen of MWK plus his interpretation, and re-working of songs, lyrics and poems by Phil Ochs, Jim Ford, Bobby Darin, Langston Hughes, Roosevelt Sykes and Bob Dylan. CD version comes in a beautiful, triple gatefold, digi-pack sleeve, with extensive liner notes from Michael.

“King restates one of contemporary music’s most neglected values as a formidable instrument. ‘I Didn’t Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier’ wields a potent eternal truth. This is music of intelligent dissidence.”
– Mojo

credits

released April 2, 2020

Produced by MWK

Engineered and mixed by Gwyn Jones at Bos Studios, Llanerfyl, winter 2009

Musicians;
Rob Bonhomme - drums / percussion
Alan Cook- pedal steel / lap steel / mandolin
Mike Cosgrave - pedal organ/ strings
Paul Hesketh - electric guitars / bass guitar
Gwyn Jones - bass
Jamie Matthews - harmonica
Jeb Loy Nichols - backing vocals
Sian Williams - piano
MWK - vocals, acoustic guitars, harmonica, percussion

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Michael Weston King Montgomery, UK

Former leader of Alt. Country pioneers, The Good Sons, 12 years a solo artist and currently 1/2 of award winning country soul duo My Darling Clementine.

"King has a voice part Nashville balladeer and part Alt Country hero, a cross between Nick Cave and Rodney Crowell"
- The Independent ... more

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