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| INGLESE / ENGLISH / ANGLAIS [5] - Davide Turcato
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| THE DESERTER | THE DESERTER |
| | |
| Your Majesty the King, | In full awareness, |
| I'm writing you a letter, | Dear President, |
| Though you might hear me better, | I am writing you this letter, |
| if you could hear me sing. | which I hope you will read. |
| There just came through my door, | The draft card here |
| my army papers warning, | plainly tells me that |
| We leave on Monday morning, | I have to go make war |
| we march away to war. | this coming Monday. |
| Well, I don't fit your plan, | However, I am not here, |
| I must refuse the shilling, | Dear President, |
| For I'm no longer willing | to kill people |
| to kill my fellow man. | more or less like me. |
| Your Majesty, I say, | I am not annoyed with you, |
| with due consideration, | by the way, |
| It's my determination, | but I feel I have decided |
| I will desert today. | and I will desert. |
| | |
| I've seen my father die, | I only had trouble |
| I've seen my sisters grieving, | since I was born |
| My older brothers leaving, | and the children I brought up |
| my younger brothers cry. | have cried with me. |
| My mother knew such wrongs, | My mom and my dad |
| she lies beneath her tombstone, | are buried now |
| She cares no more for tombstones, | and about the war |
| she cares no more for songs. | they won't give a damn. |
| While I was in the hole, | When I was a prisoner |
| they stole away my good wife, | someone stole |
| They stole away my good life, | my wife and my past, |
| they stole away my soul. | my best age. |
| So now I'll slam my door, | Tomorrow I am going to get up |
| on all those years of sorrow, | I am going to close the door |
| And starting from tomorrow, | on the dead season |
| I'll sleep at home no more. | and set off. |
| | |
| I'm off to beg my way, | I'll live on charity |
| to tramp the roads and islands, | on the streets of Spain, |
| From Cornwall to the Highlands, | of France and Britain |
| and this is what I'll say: | and I'll call on everyone |
| "Refuse to go to war, | not to leave anymore |
| refuse to cross the borders, | and not to obey |
| Refuse to obey orders, | just to end up dead |
| desert and fight no more." | for no matter who. |
| If blood must flow this spring, | Therefore if you need |
| why don't you give a sample? | blood at all costs, |
| You'd be a fine example, | go give yours, |
| Your Majesty the King. | if this amuses you. |
| If you would hunt me down, | And, please, tell your men, |
| tell Tom and Dick and Harry, | if they come for me, |
| No weapon will I carry, | that they can shoot at me, |
| and they may gun me down. | weapons ... I don't have. |
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