Johnny can't read, Johnny can't write
Johnny ain't have much of a life
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

His father told him to be a marine
To fight a war he did not believe in
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Johnny told his father, he just could not
Don't wanna live his life that way
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Johnny always thought there was something wrong
Day by day singing his fathers song
Johnny don't want to live his life that way
Now day to day, dying the military way

Johnny was rough, Johnny was tough
But not tough enough to just say no
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Johnny went down to sign up that day
They sent him down to basic training
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Johnny always thought there was something wrong
Day to day singing his fathers song
Johnny don't want to live his life that way
Now day to day, dying the military way

Johnny can't read, Johnny can't write
Johnny didn't have much of a life
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

His father told him to be a marine
To fight a war he did not believe in
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Johnny was rough, Johnny was tough
But not tough enough to just say no
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Johnny went down to sign up that day
They sent him down to basic training
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Johnny always thought there was something wrong
Day to day singing his fathers song
Johnny don't want to live his life that way
Now day to day, dying the military way

Johnny went to a foreign land
He died in the hands of a foreign man
We'll always remember Johnny in his last days

Johnny went to a foreign land
He died in the hands of a foreign man
We'll always remember Johnny in his last days

Johnny went to a foreign land
He died in the hands of a foreign man
We'll always remember Johnny in his last days