Anthem for a Doomed Youth

(music: John Lombardo/lyric: John Lombardo adapts Wilfred Owen)
 for whom the bells toll
 when sentenced to die
 the stuttering rifles
 will stifle the cry
 the monstrous anger
 the fear's rapid rattle
 a desert inferno
 kids dying like cattle
 don't tell me
 we're not prepared
 i've seen today's marine
 he's eighteen and he's eager
 he can be quite mean
 no mock'ries for them
 no prayers or bells
 the demented choirs
 the wailing of shells
 the boys holding candles
 on untraveled roads
 the fear spreads like fire
 as shrapnel explodes
 i think it's wrong
 to conscript our youth
 against their will
 when plenty of our citizenry
 really like to kill
 what sign posts will lead
 to armageddon's fires
 what bugles will call them
 from crowded grey shires
 the women sit quiet
 with death on their minds
 a slow dusk descending
 the drawing of blinds
 make the hunters all line up
 it's their idea of fun
 and let those be forgiven
 who never owned a gun
 was it him or me
 or the wailing of the dead
 the laughing soldiers
 cast their lots
 and you can cut the dread