Rod McKuen / Read poetry : All Poetry

Rod McKuen / Read poetry

Rod McKuen   Follow

Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes

Come and take my eldest son,
Show him how to shoot a gun
Wipe his eyes if he starts to cry
When the bullets fly.
Give him a rifle, take his hoe,
Show him a field where he can go
To lay his body down and die
Without asking why
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
Sticks and stones can break your bones,
Even names can hurt you
But the thing that hurts the most
Is when a man deserts you
Don't you think it's time to weed
The leaders that no longer lead
From the people of the land
Who'd like to see their sons again?
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
God if men could only see
The lessons taught by history
That all the singers of this song
Cannot right a single wrong
Let all men of good will
Stay in the fields they have to till
Feed the mouths they have to fill
And cast away their arms
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians
Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes number practically zero
But there are millions who want to be civilians

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Analysis (ai): This anti-war poem condemns the glorification of heroism and the exploitation of young soldiers. It exposes the futility of war, highlighting the disproportionate number of civilians who desire peace over soldiers seeking glory. The poem's repetition and simple language emphasize the urgency and universality of the message. In contrast to the author's earlier works, which often explored themes of love and longing, this poem takes a more overtly political stance, reflecting the social and political unrest of its time.
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Rod McKuen   Follow

Without a Worry in the World

You all have seen the vagabond
as he went singing in the dawn
without a worry in the world
I've never seen a gipsy who
Could be a gipsy through and through
and have a worry in the world

 

All merry men are minstrels then
Who keep their troubles locked inside
And don't inflict them on the world
Isn't there something to be said
For leaving your troubles home in bed
And never taking them to the road

 

The sailor cruising into town
Is not afraid to be a clown
without a worry in the world
No cowboy with an ounce of pride
Will mount his horse and ride
and have a worry in the world

 

All merry men are minstrels then
Who keep their troubles locked inside
And don't inflict them on the world
Isn't there something to be said
For leaving your troubles home in bed
And never taking them to the road

 

If I must love then let me love
As thought I've never loved before
without a worry in the world
If I must go then let me go
And only gently close the door

 

All merry men are minstrels then
Who keep their troubles locked inside
And don't inflict them on the world
Isn't there something to be said
for having had someone instead
of never have had any at all

 

Without a worry in the world
without a worry in the world

 

Yes I've got troubles of my own
I'll try to solve them all alone
I won't inflict them on the world

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Analysis (ai): This poem explores the idea of embracing happiness and avoiding burdening others with personal troubles. It portrays various archetypal characters, such as vagabond, gipsy, merry men, sailor, and cowboy, who are depicted as carefree and unburdened.

The poet questions the wisdom of sharing one's troubles, suggesting that keeping them private and focusing on joy is a more positive approach. The refrain "without a worry in the world" emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and avoiding dwelling on negativity.

In comparison to other works by McKuen, this poem is relatively straightforward and less overtly sentimental. It reflects the cultural zeitgeist of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when themes of individual happiness and personal growth were prevalent.
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Seasons in the Sun

(an English-language adaptation of the song Le Moribund by Jacques Brel)

 

Goodby, Emile, my trusted friend, we've known each
other since we were nine or ten.
Together we climbed hills and trees, learned of love
and A B Cs, skinned our hearts and skinned our knees.
Adieu, Emile, it's hard to die when all the birds are
singing in the sky. Now that the Spring is in the air
Pretty girls are ev'rywhere. wish for me and I'll be
there.

Chorus:
We had joy. We had fun. We had seasons in the sun, but
the wine and the song like the seasons are all gone

Adieu, Papa, please pray for me. I was the black sheep
of the family.
You tried to teach me right from wrong. Too much wine
and too much song, wonder how i got along.
Adieu, Papa, it's hard to die when all the birds are
singing in the sky. Now that the Spring is in the air
Little children ev'rywhere. Think of me, I'll be there.

(Chorus)
We had joy. We had fun. We had seasons in the sun, but
the the song and the rime were just seasons out of
time.

Adieu, Francoise, my faithfull wife, without you I'd
have had a lonely life.
You cheated lots of times but then, I forgave you in
the end though your lover was my friend.
Adieu, Francoise, it's hard to die when all the birds
are singing in the sky. Now that the spring is in the
air
With your lovers ev'rywhere; just be careful, I'll be
there.

we had joy we had fun. We had seasons in the sun, but
the stars we could reach were just starfish on the
beach.

Adieu, Emile. Adieu, Papa. Goodby, Francoise.

All our lives, we had fun. We had seasons in the sun,
the wine and the song like the seasons are all gone
All our lives, we had fun. We had seasons in the sun,
but the stars we could reach were just starfish on the
beach.
 

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Analysis (ai): This poem is about memories of youth and the realization of the inevitable shortness of life. It reflects on the joy and pain shared with loved ones, the bittersweet passage of time, and the longing for a better future.

The poem's structure is simple and repetitive, with each stanza beginning with a farewell to a different person. The chorus, "We had joy. We had fun. We had seasons in the sun," serves as a reminder of happier times. However, the poem also explores themes of regret and loss, as the speaker reflects on missed opportunities and the mistakes of the past.

Compared to the author's other works, this poem is more melancholic and introspective. It lacks the optimism and idealism of his earlier writing, and instead focuses on the darker aspects of human experience. It also reflects the pessimism and disillusionment of the post-war era, in which the promise of a bright future had given way to a sense of uncertainty and despair.
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