Where's My Apple Pie?
Joan Baez Lyrics

Been sitting on old park benches
Reflecting on the past, the singer has spent time resting on park benches.

Brother, hasn't it been fun?
The singer is sarcastically acknowledging the irony of asking if war has been 'fun.'

But you remember me from the trenches
The singer fought in the trenches of World War One.

I fought in World War One
The artist fought in World War One and faced the realities of war.

Yes, you saw us off at the troop train
Farewells were given as soldiers departed for the war.

Smiling a brave goodbye
Despite the difficult departure, soldiers put on a brave face for others.

But where were you when we came home
When soldiers returned home from war, they did not receive the support they needed.

To claim our apple pie
The artist is using 'apple pie' as a symbol for the American Dream and what soldiers expected to receive when they returned home.

Oh where's our apple pie, my friends?
The artist is lamenting the fact that returning soldiers did not receive the support they deserved.

World War Two was a favorite
World War Two is referred to as a 'favorite' in comparison to World War One, but this does not mean it was actually enjoyable or any less devastating.

God was surely on our side
Many people believed that God was on the side of the Allied forces during World War Two.

The teenage kids enlisted with
Young people enlisted in the military and had to face the horrors of war.

The blessings of their daddys' pride
Fathers felt immense pride in their sons who were serving in the military.

Well the wars may change but not so the glaze
The singer is noting that while the wars themselves may change, the naivety and enthusiasm of young soldiers remains the same.

In the young boys' eyes
The singer is referring to the lack of experience and understanding in young soldiers, who are often sent to fight in wars.

When they cry out for their mamas
Many soldiers call out for their mothers in moments of pain and distress during war.

In the hours before they die
The artist is acknowledging the tragic reality that many soldiers did not survive the war.

I volunteered for the last one
The singer chose to volunteer for the last war they fought in.

And I don't want to moralize
The singer does not want to lecture or preach, but feels frustrated by the way soldiers were treated upon returning home.

But somehow I thought we deserved the best
The artist believes that returning soldiers deserved more support and better treatment than they received.

For the way we threw away our lives
The artist is acknowledging the fact that soldiers made huge sacrifices and put their lives on the line for their country.

For we all believed in something
Soldiers were fighting for something they believed in, whether they fully understood the reasons behind the war or not.

I know it wasn't very clear
The singer acknowledges that the reasons for going to war may not have been entirely clear or well-defined.

But I know it wasn't rats in a hospital room
The artist believes that the reasons for fighting were not as trivial as the conditions found in a hospital room.

And a broken-down wheelchair
The singer references a broken wheelchair as a symbol for the lack of support and care that returning soldiers received.

Yes, Johnny finally got his gun
The singer refers to a soldier who finally received a gun, implying that it was necessary for them to have to fight for so long without one.

Before he got his apple pie
The singer is again using 'apple pie' as a symbol for the support and care that soldiers deserved but did not receive.

Now he hasn't got a hand to eat it with
The sacrifices that soldiers make often result in them losing something, such as a limb, making it difficult to do even basic things like eat.

But still he doesn't want to die
Despite the extreme difficulties and consequences of war, many soldiers feel a strong desire to continue fighting and persevere.

Because he prefers to go on fighting
Soldiers often feel a sense of duty to continue fighting and defending their country and beliefs, even if it means sacrificing their own lives.

And let his baby brother know
The singer is suggesting that soldiers feel a sense of responsibility to help educate and protect younger generations.

When the next time around the call goes out
The artist is referring to the possibility of future wars and the need for young soldiers to prepare themselves mentally and emotionally.

It's 'Hell no, we won't go!'
The artist is promoting the idea that refusing to go to war may be the best way to prevent unnecessary violence and suffering.

There'll be no World War Three, my friends
The artist believes that war can be avoided in the future if people understand the true cost and consequences of violent conflict.

There'll be no World War Three
The singer is hopeful that society can find better ways to address and resolve conflicts without resorting to war.

We've walked and wheeled from the battlefield
The artist acknowledges the physical and emotional toll that war takes on soldiers and their ability to fully recover when they return.