I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier
John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band, Flux Fiddlers
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Well, I don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't want to die Well, I don't want to be a sailor mama, I don't want to fly Well, I don't want to be a failure mama, I don't want to cry Well, I don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't want to die Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no Well, I don't want to be a rich man mama, I don't want to cry Well, I don't want to be a poor man mama, I don't want to fly Well, I don't want to be a lawyer mama, I don't want to lie Well, I don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't want to die Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, hey Well, I don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't want to die Well, I don't want to be a thief now mama, I don't want to fly Well, I don't want to be a churchman mama, I don't want to cry Well, I don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't want to die Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, hey Oh well, I don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't want to die Well, I don't want to be a sailor mama, I don't want to fly Well, I don't want to be a failure mama, I don't want to cry I don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't want to die Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
10 facts about this song
Song Recording"I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" was recorded by John Lennon, former member of the Beatles, in 1971. The song was part of the hit album "Imagine," which was Lennon's second solo record after the Beatles split.
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Musical GenreThis song extends Lennon’s musical range into the territory of psychedelic rock. It is rich in looped rhythms and distorted musical contours, which was a shift from Lennon’s earlier works.
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CollaborationsThe song features a host of famous musicians, including George Harrison from the Beatles on guitar, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and Phil Spector, who co-produced the song and album with Lennon and Yoko Ono.
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Lyrics ThemeThe song doesn't have a traditional structure or a recurring chorus. Its lyrics convey an anti-war message, reflecting Lennon’s personal beliefs and pacifist sentiments at the time.
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Album Success"I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" is part of the "Imagine" album, which topped the charts in both the US and UK. Despite this, the song was never released as a single.
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Lennon’s EmotionLennon publicly referred to "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" as a cry from within himself, sharing his deep-seated aversion to violence and his wish not to participate in war.
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Song LengthAt almost six and a half minutes, "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" is one of the longest songs on the album "Imagine," something quite unusual for pop records at the time.
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Based on Personal ExperienceLennon drew upon some of his life experiences for the creation of this song. The line, "Mama, mama, you can hold your head high," for instance, is thought to reflect his feelings about his mother’s death.
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Sound EffectsAn interesting sound effect in the song is the use of echo chamber, which contributes to the song's surreal sound.
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Social ContextThe song was written during the Vietnam War and is usually interpreted as Lennon's personal rejection of war. Lennon was an active participant in the anti-war movement and this song was seen as an expression of his views.
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Citation
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"I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3403164/John+Lennon/I+Don%27t+Wanna+Be+a+Soldier>.
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