It’s very likely we’d have wanted to punch this mouth-breather in the face if we’d ever met him in person, but…we like this song. Yes, it’s some hippie anti-war stuff, but we like the beat, and interestingly many of our veteran friends like it too. That may or may not be ironic. We’d have to ask our Grammer Nazi to know for sure, but he’s somewhere in Houston ogling hot Latinas while taste-testing osteoporosis medicines.
In any case, this is Luang Prabang by Dave Van Ronk.
More on the artist here. Lyrics below. Image of Van Ronk from NPR.org.
Sunday Singalong: Luang Prabang
When I came back from Luang Prabang
I didn’t have a thing where my balls used to hang
But I got a wooden medal and a fine harangue
Now I’m a fucking hero
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
And now the boys all envy me
I fought for Christian democracy
With nothing but air where my balls used to be
Now I’m a fucking hero
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
One and twenty cannons thundered
Into the bloody wild blue yonder
For a patriotic balless wonder
Now I’m a fucking hero
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
In Luang Prabang there is a spot
Where the corpses of your brothers rot
And every corpse is a patriot
And every corpse is a hero
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
Mourn your dead, land of the free
If you wanna be a hero, follow me
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Fucking moron. I want to punch you in the face you historically illiterate grease spot
What a war hawk douchebag.
I disagree that LOTR is anti war. Of course war sucks and Tolkien knew it. I believe his epic stories demonstrate that he knew it is sometimes better than the option
Um, Dave Van Ronk is dead. The Big C got him in 2002. Where he went in the afterlife and where you eventually go will determine whether you get to punch him in the face. 😉
FWIW, most “war songs” and “war movies” are anti-war. Hell, even The Lord of The Rings was anti-war. Look up J.R.R. Tolkien’s military service history to understand why. I don’t mind. I love the military, I loved the adrenaline rush, but all in all … war sucks.
It is a lovely song, though, isn’t it? Perfect for the gym and the range.