(Bob Dylan)
oh my name it is nothing' my age it means less
the country i come from is called the midwest
i was taught and brought up there the laws to abide
and the land that i live in has god on its side.
oh the history books tell it they tell it so well
the cavalries charged the indians fell
the cavalries charged and the indians died
oh the country was young with god on its side.
the spanish-american war had its day
and the civil war too was soon laid away
and the names of the heroes i was taught to memorize
with guns in their hands and god on their side.
the first world war, boys it came and it went
the reason for fighting i never did get
but i learned to accept it and accept it with pride
or you don't count the dead when god's on your side.
when the second world war came to an end
we forgave the germans and then we were friends
though they murdered six million in the ovens they fried
the germans now too have god on their side.
i've learned to hate russians all through my whole life
if another war comes it's them we must fight
to hate them and fear them to run and to hide
and accept it all bravely with god on my side.
but now we got weapons of the chemical dust
if fire them we're forced to then fire them we must
one push of the button and a shot the world wide
and you never ask questions when god's on your side.
in a many dark hour i've been thinking' about this
that jesus christ was betrayed by a kiss
but i can't think for you you'll have to decide
whether judas iscariot had god on his side.
so now as i'm leaving' i'm weary as hell
the confusion i'm feeling' ain't no tongue can tell
the words fill my head and fall to the floor
if god's on our side he'll stop the next war.