album cover
The Draft Dodger Rag
733
Alternative Folk
The Draft Dodger Rag was released on January 1, 1964 by Mercury Records as a part of the album The Slightly Irreverent
album cover
Release DateJanuary 1, 1964
LabelMercury Records
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
The Chad Mitchell Trio
The Chad Mitchell Trio
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Songwriter
Milt Okun
Milt Okun
Arranger

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
We've licked pneumonia and TB
And plagues that used to mock us
We've got the onus and the sun
The smallpox cannot pock us
[Verse 2]
We found the antibodies for the staphylo-, streptococcus
But oh, the universal curse from Vietnam to Korea
The bug of bugs that bugs us still and begs for panacea
Oh, who will find the antidote for panty gonorrhea?
[Verse 3]
I'm just a typical American boy
From a typical American town
I believe in God and Senator Dodd
And in keeping old Castro down
[Verse 4]
And when it came my time to serve
I knew better dead than red
But when I got to my old draft board
Buddy, this is what I said
[Verse 5]
Sarge, I'm only 18, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
My asthma's getting worse
[Verse 6]
Consider my career, my sweetheart, dear
My poor old invalid aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-going to school
And I'm a-working in a defense plant
[Verse 7]
I've got a dislocated disc and a racked up back
I'm allergic to flowers and bugs
And when a bombshell hits, I get epileptic fits
And I'm addicted to a thousand drugs
[Verse 8]
I got the weakness woes and I can't touch my toes
I can hardly reach my knees
And if the enemy ever came close to me
Well, I'd probably start to sneeze
[Verse 9]
Sarge, I'm only 18, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
My asthma's getting worse
[Verse 10]
Consider my career, my sweetheart, dear
My poor old invalid aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-going to school
And I'm a-working in a defense plant
[Verse 11]
I hate Zhou Enlai and I hope he dies
But I think you gotta see
That if someone's gotta go over there
That someone isn't me
[Verse 12]
So, have a ball, Sarge, watch 'em fall
While you kill me a thousand or so
And if you ever get a war without any gore
Well, I'll be the first to go
[Verse 13]
Sarge, I'm only 18, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
My asthma's getting worse
[Verse 14]
Consider my career, my sweetheart, dear
I gotta water my rubber tree plant
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-going to school
And I'm a-working in a defense plant
[Verse 15]
Sarge, I'm only 18, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
My asthma's getting worse
[Verse 16]
Consider my career, my sweetheart, dear
My poor old invalid aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-going to school
And I'm a-working in a defense plant
Written by: Phil Ochs
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