Battle Hymn of the Republic
Mannheim Steamroller and C. W. McCall Lyrics

Once upon a time there was a little boy who wanted to grow up
A young boy dreamed of serving his country as a soldier.

And be a soldier and serve his country in whatever way he could
He strived to serve his country to the best of his ability.

He would parade around the house with a sauce pan on his head
As a child, he paraded around with a saucepan helmet and toy sword.

For a helmet, a wooden sword in one hand and the American flag in the other
He dressed up as a soldier with makeshift equipment and an American flag.

As he grew up, he put away the things of a child but he never let go of the flag
Growing up, he put aside childish things but never lost his patriotism.

My name is William Calley, I'm a soldier of this land
A soldier named William Calley introduces himself.

I've tried to do my duty and to gain the upper hand
He has put all his effort into his duty and being successful.

But they've made me out a villain they have stamped me with a brand
William Calley is portrayed as a villain.

As we go marching on
The soldiers keep marching forward.

I'm just another soldier from the shores of U.S.A.
William Calley is just one of many soldiers serving from the United States.

Forgotten on a battle field then thousand miles away
Some soldiers feel they're forgotten, despite being thousands of miles away.

While life goes on as usual from New York to Santa Fe
Back home in America, life continues as usual.

I've seen my buddies ambushed on the left and on the right
William Calley has seen his fellow soldiers get ambushed from all sides.

And their youthful bodies riddled by the bullets of the night
Young soldiers have been injured and killed in the night.

Where all the rules are broken and the only law is might
In war, there are no rules and the strongest survive.

While we're fighting in the jungles they were marching in the street
While soldiers fought in the jungles, people marched in the streets.

While we're dying in the rice fields they were helping our defeat
While soldiers were dying, others were contributing to their defeat.

While we're facing V.C. bullets they were sounding a retreat
While soldiers faced enemy fire, others were retreating.

With our sweat we took the bunkers, with our tears we took the plain
Soldiers struggled and fought to take control.

With our blood we took the mountains and they gave it back again
Soldiers fought and gave their lives to take control of strategic locations.

Still all of us are soldiers, we're too busy to complain
Despite the challenges, soldiers stay focused on their duty and don't complain.

When I reach my final campground in that land beyond the sun
When he dies and reaches the afterlife.

And the great commander asks me, 'Did you fight or did you run?'
When asked if he fought or fled.

I'll stand both straight and tall stripped of medals, rank and gun
Despite being stripped of his awards, rank, and weapon.

And this is what I'll say
He states his answer.

Sir, I followed all my orders and I did the best I could
He obeyed orders and tried his hardest.

It's hard to judge the enemy and hard to tell the good
Identifying the enemy and distinguishing the good from the bad is difficult.

Yet there's not a man among us would not have understood
Every soldier would understand the situation.

We took the jungle village exactly like they said
Soldiers followed orders and took control of a specific location.

We responded to their rifle fire with everything we had
Soldiers retaliated with full force to enemy gunfire.

And when the smoke had cleared away a hundred souls lay dead
After the gunfire stopped, many enemy soldiers lay dead.

Sir, the soldier that's alive is the only once can fight
The only soldiers able to fight are the surviving ones.

There's no other way to wage a war when the only one in sight
During battle, the only certain ally is the one next to you.

That you're sure is not a VC is your buddy on your right
The only ally you can trust is the one on your right.

When all the wars are over and the battle's finally won
When the war is won and battles are over.

Count me only as a soldier who never left his gun
Remember him as a soldier who never left his weapon.

With the right to serve my country as the only prize I've won
Serving his country is his only reward.

Glory, glory hallelujah glory, glory hallelujah
An expression of pride for their country and their service.