Bob Dylan Follow

WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE (Bob Dylan, 1963)
Rendition by O.V. Michaelsen (Ove Ofteness)

Adapted from Dominic Behan‘s "The Patriot Game," predated by "The Nightingale"
(an Appalachian song). Dominic was a brother of Brian and playwright Brendan Behan.

Never mind what my name is, my age, it means less.
The land that I come from is the free, open West.
Was taught and brought up there, the laws to abide,
And the country I live in has God on its side.

Oh, the history books tell it, they tell it so well.
The cavalries charged and the Indians, they fell.
The cavalries charged, the Indians, they died,
When the country was young and new, with God on its side.

Well, the Spanish-American War had its day,
And the Civil War, too, was soon laid away,
And the name of each hero, I was made to memorize,
With a gun in his hand and God on his side.

Oh, the First World War, boys, it closed out its fate,
Though the reason for fighting, I never got straight,
But I learned to accept it, and accept it with pride,
For you never ask questions when God's on your side.

Spoken line: When the Second World War finally came to an end,
We’d forgiven the Germans, and then we were friends.
Though they crucified millions, and it can’t be denied,
Well, the Germans, now too, have God on their side.

In a many dark hour, well, I’ve thought about this:
That Jesus, the Christ, was betrayed by a kiss.
Oh, but I can't think for ya, you'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot had God on his side.

And so now as I'm leavin', I'm weary as Hell.
The amazement I'm feelin', mere words could not tell.
How long will it take till you believers will see
If a god is on OUR side, he'll prevent World War Three?