yes it's true i am a young man
but i'm old enough to kill
i don't wanna kill nobody
but i must if you so will
and if i raise my hand in question
you just say that i'm a fool
cause i got the gall to ask you
can you maybe change the rules
can you stand and call me upstart
ask what answer can i find
i ain't sayin' i'm a genius
well i knew a guy in high school
just an average friendly guy
and he had himself a girlfriend
and you made them say goodbye
now he's buried in the mud
and his girl just sits and cries
she just doesn't understand
so you say he died for freedom
well if he died to save your lies
go ahead and call me yellow
all i know is that i'm young and your rules they are old
if i've got to kill to live
then there's something left untold
i'm no statesman i'm no general
it's the rules not the soldier
that i find the real enemy
i'm no prophet i'm no rebel
i just want a simple answer
why it is i 've got to die