Name: I Guess I Won't Enlist
Duration: P00H02M12S
Description: The lyrics of the first two verses of this anti-militarist song are taken from an anonymous poem in the Industrial Worker, the newspaper of the IWW, during World War One. We have added the third verse, and selected the popular tune. We appreciate the parallels to the tradition of Irish and later punk rock anti-recruitment songs.

I Guess I Won't Enlist

from In The Ruins They've Left Us, We'll Plant Gardens Still by Wooden Shoe Ramblers

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The lyrics of the first two verses of this anti-militarist song are taken from an anonymous poem in the Industrial Worker, the newspaper of the IWW, during World War One. We have added the third verse, and selected the popular tune. We appreciate the parallels to the tradition of Irish and later punk rock anti-recruitment songs.

lyrics

I love my flag, I do i do
that floats upon the breeze
I also love my arms and legs
and neck and nose and knees
One little shell might spoil them
Or give them such a twist
They would be of no use to me
I guess I won't enlist

I love my country yes i do
I hope her folks do well
Without our arms and legs and things
I think we'd look like hell
Young men with faces half shot off
are unfit to be kissed
I've read in books it spoils looks
I guess I won't enlist

But if someday the call went out
to build this land some homes
where families live more happily
than in some dark catacombs
if the army marches to raise a park
for hikes and games and trysts
and let alone their tanks and drones
Well then I would enlist

credits

from In The Ruins They've Left Us, We'll Plant Gardens Still, released December 23, 2020
Vocals: Jessica Garraway and Emmett Doyle
Bass: R Young
Guitar: Emmett Doyle
Accordion: Sam Adams
Songwriting: Anonymous Wobbly and Emmett Doyle

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Wooden Shoe Ramblers Minneapolis, Minnesota

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