I Just Don't Go
Lee and the Liars Lyrics
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I'm sittin' down here thinkin', I don't wanna go to Vietnam
I have all these troubles at home; I don't wanna go to Vietnam
I read the news every day; I read about Vietnam
I read the news every day; I read about Vietnam
I got so much friends in Vietnam I might not never see them no more
Sittin' here thinkin', thinkin', thinkin', I don't wanna go to Vietnam
You men in the street have so much trouble of their own; why they wanna fight in Vietnam?
Have mercy
Lord, have mercy: don't let me go to Vietnam
Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy: don't let me go to Vietnam
I have my wife and my family; I don't wanna go to Vietnam
We got so much trouble at home; we don't need to go to Vietnam
Yeah, yeah, there's a whole lot of trouble right here at home; don't need to go to Vietnam
We outta stay at home, stay out of trouble
I don't wanna go
I don't wanna go
Vietnam
Lee and the Liars's song, "I Just Don't Go," is a thought-provoking reflection on the Vietnam War era through the eyes of a young man who doesn't want to go to Vietnam. The singer's thoughts revolve around his daily struggles and worries at home, and as he reads the news about the war, he worries about not seeing his friends in Vietnam anymore. He questions why the young men on the street, who have their own struggles to deal with, would want to fight in Vietnam. He seeks mercy from the Lord, stating that he has his wife and family to look after and doesn't want to go to war. Ultimately, he believes that the country has enough trouble at home and doesn't need to go to war in Vietnam.
The song portrays both the personal and societal struggles that were prevalent during the time of the Vietnam War. The singer's reluctance to go to war reflects the feeling of many young men at the time who were unsure of why they were being sent to Vietnam. The mention of friends in Vietnam highlights the emotional toll that the war had on soldiers and their families. The questioning of the reasons for going to war and the call for staying at home to avoid trouble carries a broader societal message.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' down here thinkin', I don't wanna go to Vietnam
I am contemplating and reflecting, and I have come to the decision that I do not desire to be involved in the Vietnam War.
I have all these troubles at home; I don't wanna go to Vietnam
I have so many issues and problems within my personal life that I am not willing to add the weight of fighting in the Vietnam War to my already heavy burden.
I read the news every day; I read about Vietnam
I keep myself informed on current events, and given the amount of news coverage on the Vietnam War, it is hard to ignore.
I got so much friends in Vietnam I might not never see them no more
I have many acquaintances in Vietnam, and if I were to be drafted into the war, the chances of seeing them again are low.
You men in the street have so much trouble of their own; why they wanna fight in Vietnam?
Why do the men who face numerous issues and tribulations in their life want to enter into more trouble by participating in the Vietnam War?
Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy: don't let me go to Vietnam
I am pleading with a higher power to spare me from being sent to Vietnam to fight in the war.
We outta stay at home, stay out of trouble. I don't wanna go. Vietnam
It would be more beneficial for us as a collective society to remain in our homes, avoiding conflict and discord. Personally, I do not want to be a part of the war in Vietnam.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN LEE HOOKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind