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Should I Ever Be A Soldier Lyrics by Joe Hill

1913

[Verse 1]
We're spending billions every year
For guns and ammunition
"Our Army" and "Our Navy" dear
To keep in good condition;
While millions live in misery
And millions died before us
Don't sing "My Country, 'tis of thee,"
But sing this little chorus
[Chorus]
Should I ever be a soldier
'Neath the Red Flag I would fight;
Should the gun I ever shoulder
It's to crush the tyrant's might
Join the army of the toilers
Men and women fall in line
Wage slaves of the world! Arouse!
Do your duty for the cause
For Land and Liberty
[Verse 2]
And many a maiden, pure and fair
Her love and pride must offer
On Mammon's altar in despair
To fill the master's coffer
The gold that pays the mighty fleet
From tender youth he squeezes
While brawny men must walk the street
And face the wintry breezes
[Chorus]
Should I ever be a soldier
'Neath the Red Flag I would fight;
Should the gun I ever shoulder
It's to crush the tyrant's might
Join the army of the toilers
Men and women fall in line
Wage slaves of the world! Arouse!
Do your duty for the cause
For Land and Liberty
[Verse 3]
Why do they mount their gatling gun
A thousand miles from ocean
Where hostile fleet could never run--
Ain't that a funny notion?
If you don't know the reason why
Just strike for better wages
And then, my friends--if you don't die--
You'll sing this song for ages
[Chorus]
Should I ever be a soldier
'Neath the Red Flag I would fight;
Should the gun I ever shoulder
It's to crush the tyrant's might
Join the army of the toilers
Men and women fall in line
Wage slaves of the world! Arouse!
Do your duty for the cause
For Land and Liberty
Credits
Joe Hill

Joe Hill

About “Should I Ever Be A Soldier” by Joe Hill

Read the complete lyrics to "Should I Ever Be A Soldier" by Joe Hill in 1913. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock.

"Should I Ever Be A Soldier" is performed by Joe Hill. in 1913 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Should I Ever Be A Soldier", explore more songs by Joe Hill using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Should I Ever Be A Soldier" is credited to Joe Hill. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

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