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The Willing Conscript

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Cmajor

90BPM

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[Verse 1]
Oh CSergeant, I'm a draftee Fand I've Cjust Garrived in Ccamp
CI've come to wear the unFiform and jCoin the mGartial Ctramp
And I Fwant to do my Cduty, but one Fthing I Cdo impDloreG  
You must gCive me lessons, sFergeant, for I've nCever kGilled bCefore
[Verse 2]
To Cdo my job oFbediently is alCl that GI dCesire
To Clearn my weapon thForoughly and hCow to aGim and fCire
To Flearn to kill the eCnemy and tFhen to Cslaughter DmorGe
I'll Cneed instruction, sFergeant, for I've nCever kiGlled befCore
[Verse 3]
NCow there are several lFessons that I Chaven't mGastered Cyet
I Chaven't got the Fhang of how to Cuse the GbayonCet
FIf he doesn't die at Conce, am I to Fstick him Cwith it DmorGe?
Oh, I Chope you will be patient, fFor I've Cnever kGilled bCefore
[Verse 4]
Oh, Cthere are rumors in the cFamp aCbout oGur enCemy
ThCey say that when you Fsee him he looks jCust like yGou and Cme
But yFou deny it, CSergeant, and yFou are Ca man of DwaGr
So Cyou must give me lFessons, for I've nCever Gkilled Cbefore
[Verse 5]
The Chand grenade is Fsomething that I Cjust don't GundersCtand
You've Cgot to throw it qFuickly or you're Capt to Glose your Chand
Does it Fblow a man to Cpieces with its Fwicked, Cmuffled DroaGr?
Oh, I've Cgot so much to Flearn because I've Cnever kGilled bCefore
[Verse 6]
OCh, I want to thank you, FSergeant, for the hCelp you've Gbeen to Cme
FCor you've taught me how to Fslaughter and to Chate the GeneCmy
And I kFnow that I'll be rCeady when they Fmarch me Coff to DwaGr
And I Cknow that it won't mFatter that I've Cnever kGilled Cbefore
GAnd I Cknow that it won't mFatter that I've nCever kGilled bCefore

All chords in this song (4)

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The Willing Conscript

by Tom Paxton

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

C F C G C

Oh Sergeant, I'm a draftee and I've just arrived in camp

C F C G C

I've come to wear the uniform and join the martial tramp

F C F C D G

And I want to do my duty, but one thing I do implore

C F C G C

You must give me lessons, sergeant, for I've never killed before

[Verse 2]

C F C G C

To do my job obediently is all that I desire

C F C G C

To learn my weapon thoroughly and how to aim and fire

F C F C D G

To learn to kill the enemy and then to slaughter more

C F C G C

I'll need instruction, sergeant, for I've never killed before

[Verse 3]

C F C G C

Now there are several lessons that I haven't mastered yet

C F C G C

I haven't got the hang of how to use the bayonet

F C F C D G

If he doesn't die at once, am I to stick him with it more?

C F C G C

Oh, I hope you will be patient, for I've never killed before

[Verse 4]

C F C G C

Oh, there are rumors in the camp about our enemy

C F C G C

They say that when you see him he looks just like you and me

F C F C D G

But you deny it, Sergeant, and you are a man of war

C F C G C

So you must give me lessons, for I've never killed before

[Verse 5]

C F C G C

The hand grenade is something that I just don't understand

C F C G C

You've got to throw it quickly or you're apt to lose your hand

F C F C D G

Does it blow a man to pieces with its wicked, muffled roar?

C F C G C

Oh, I've got so much to learn because I've never killed before

[Verse 6]

C F C G C

Oh, I want to thank you, Sergeant, for the help you've been to me

C F C G C

For you've taught me how to slaughter and to hate the enemy

F C F C D G

And I know that I'll be ready when they march me off to war

C F C G C

And I know that it won't matter that I've never killed before

G C F C G C

And I know that it won't matter that I've never killed before

About The Willing Conscript Chords by Tom Paxton

Learn how to play The Willing Conscript by Tom Paxton with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Willing Conscript chords”, “The Willing Conscript guitar chords”, or “Tom Paxton The Willing Conscript chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Willing Conscript chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Willing Conscript lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G, D.

FAQ — The Willing Conscript by Tom Paxton

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Is "The Willing Conscript" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "The Willing Conscript" in?

The chords for "The Willing Conscript" show the original chord names (including C, F, G, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.