Papa take a look at your boy, he's a military man
Papa take a look at your boy, he's crying
Papa take a look at your boy, he's a soldier
Papa take a look in his eyes, they're colder

Papa take a look at your boy, he's a military man
Mama take a look at your boy, he's dying
Mama take a look at your boy, he's fighting
Mama take a look at your boy, he's frightened

They have trained your boy to kill
And kill someday he will
They have trained your boy to die
And ask no questions why

Papa take a look at your boy
Take a look at your boy
Take a look at your boy
He's a killer, yeah

Mama take a look at your boy
Take a look at him now
Take a look at your boy
He's a soldier, he's colder, he's older, mama

Mama take a look at your boy, obey the order
Mama take a look at your boy, like a lamb to the slaughter

They have trained your boy to kill
And kill someday he will
They have trained your boy to die
And ask no questions why

One day, I will write for you a lovesong mother
As the children say, I love you, please hold me
And you and I, we will live our life together
Until that day when we die, I will love you mother
I will always love you

I am writing from this war
Oh mama, I don't know what I'm fighting for
And have you seen my children?
God bless them, kiss them
And tell them that I miss them

See I'm frightened in the dark
Mama, mama
The blood is ankle-deep
They have trained your boy to kill
And kill someday he will
They have trained your boy to die

Mama take a look at your boy
Take a look at your boy
Take a look at your boy
He's marching
He's a soldier

Oh brother, oh mama
He's on the street
He's marching to the backbeat