captain, captain

captain

captain

i'll follow gladly

my country's honour to uphold

but sir tell me

is it the duty of the young to die to save the old?

my mamma's home

she's softly crying

she prays long for me at night

my father walks around so proudly

but inside he's bent with fright

sister smiles at all the young men

she doesn't know what war's about

my little brother plays at soldiers

all too soon he'll find out

captain

captain

i'll follow gladly

my country's honour to uphold

but sir tell me

is it the duty of the young to die to save the old?

world war one killed my grandfather

my uncle died in world war two

no-one died in korea

i guess the family's overdue

i want to live to get back home sir

get a job

live quietly

i want to find a girl to love me

settle down

raise a family

captain

captain

i'll follow gladly

my country's honour to uphold

but sir tell me

is it the duty of the young to die to save the old?