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Listen to Ain't That News by Tom Paxton
ALBUMAin't That NewsTom Paxton
Listen to Inspired by Woody Guthrie featuring Tom Paxton
PLAYLISTInspired by Woody GuthrieApple Music Acoustic

Top Songs By Tom Paxton

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Tom Paxton
Tom Paxton
Vocals
Barry Kornfeld
Barry Kornfeld
Guitar
Felix Pappalardi
Felix Pappalardi
Guitar
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Tom Paxton
Tom Paxton
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Paul Rothchild
Paul Rothchild
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I got a letter from L.B.J.
It said, "This is your lucky day
It's time to put your khaki trousers on
Though it may seem very queer
We've got no jobs to give you here
So we are sending you to Vietnam"
[Verse 2]
Lyndon Johnson told the nation
"Have no fear of escalation
I am trying everyone to please
Though it isn't really war
We're sending fifty thousand more
To help save Vietnam from Vietnamese"
[Verse 3]
I jumped off the old troop ship
And sank in mud, up to my hips
I cussed until the captain called me down
"Never mind how hard it's raining
Think of all the ground we're gaining
Just don't take one step outside of town"
[Verse 4]
Lyndon Johnson told the nation
"Have no fear of escalation
I am trying everyone to please
Though it isn't really war
We're sending fifty thousand more
To help save Vietnam from Vietnamese"
[Verse 5]
Every night, the local gentry
Slip out past the sleeping sentry
They go out to join the old VC
In their nightly, little dramas
They put on their black pajamas
And come lobbing mortar shells at me
[Verse 6]
Well, Lyndon Johnson told the nation
"Have no fear of escalation
I am trying everyone to please
Though it isn't really war
We're sending fifty thousand more
To help save Vietnam from Vietnamese"
[Verse 7]
We'd go round in helicopters
Like a bunch of big grasshoppers
Searchin' for the Viet Cong in vain
They left a note that they had gone
They had to get down to Saigon
Their government positions to maintain
[Verse 8]
And Lyndon Johnson told the nation
"Have no fear of escalation
I am trying everyone to please
Though it isn't really war
We're sending fifty thousand more
To help save Vietnam from Vietnamese"
[Verse 9]
Well, here I sit in this rice paddy
Wonderin' about Big Daddy
And I know that Lyndon loves me so
Yet how sadly I remember
Way back yonder in November
When he said I'd never have to go
[Verse 10]
Lyndon Johnson told the nation
"Have no fear of escalation
I am trying everyone to please
Though it isn't really war
We're sending fifty thousand more
To help save Vietnam from Vietnamese"
Written by: Tom Paxton

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