Draft Resister
Steppenwolf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴He was talkin' 'bout the army while he passed his pipe around
An American deserter who found peace on Swedish ground
He had joined to seek adventure and to prove himself a man
But they tried to crush his spirit 'til his conscience ruined their plans
And he thought of those who suffer for the sake of honesty
All those who refuse to follow traitors to humanity

Here's to all the draft resisters who will fight for sanity

When they march them off to prison in this land of libety

Heed the threat and awesome power of the mighty Pentagon
Which is wasting precious millions on the toys of Washington

Don't forget the Draft Resister and their silent, lonely plea
When they march them off to prison, they will go for you and me.

Shame, disgrace and all dishonor, wrongly placed upon their heads
Will not rob them of the courage which betrays the innocent

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steppenwolf’s song, “Draft Resister” tells the story of an American who deserted the army and found refuge in Sweden. Initially, he joined the army to seek adventure and prove himself as a man, but the harsh realities of war crushed his spirit and made him question the morality of the war. He couldn’t bring himself to follow the traitors to humanity and decided to flee. The song honours the draft resisters who fight for sanity and refuse to be like puppets controlled by the military.

The song also warns against the “threat and power” of the Pentagon, which wastes millions on the toys of Washington instead of using it for the betterment of humanity. The Draft Resisters’ silent plea is highlighted, and the song reminds the listeners that when they are marched off to prison, they go for everyone. The song ends on an encouraging note, vowing that the wrong placed on their heads will not rob them of the courage that betrays the innocent.

In summary, the song drafts a vivid picture of the inner struggles of a draft resister, their courage to resist the world’s expectations and pressure, and the consequences that they must face as they fight for what they believe in.

Line by Line Meaning

He was talkin' 'bout the army while he passed his pipe around
The deserter talked about his negative experiences in the army while sharing his pipe.

An American deserter who found peace on Swedish ground
The deserter left America for Sweden to find peace after deserting the army.

He had joined to seek adventure and to prove himself a man
The deserter joined the army to seek adventure and gain recognition as a man.

But they tried to crush his spirit 'til his conscience ruined their plans
The army attempted to break him down, but his conscience hindered their efforts.

And he thought of those who suffer for the sake of honesty
The deserter sympathized with those who were persecuted for being truthful and honest.

All those who refuse to follow traitors to humanity
He respected individuals who chose not to follow corrupt leaders who dishonor humanity.

Here's to all the draft resisters who will fight for sanity
A message of appreciation for draft resisters who stand up for what is morally right.

When they march them off to prison in this land of liberty
In America, even those who stand for what is right may be punished and imprisoned.

Heed the threat and awesome power of the mighty Pentagon
Warning people to be aware of the immense power and danger that the Pentagon possesses.

Which is wasting precious millions on the toys of Washington
The Pentagon spends significant amounts of money on unnecessary, frivolous items that do not benefit society.

Don't forget the Draft Resister and their silent, lonely plea
Encouraging people not to neglect or ignore the draft resisters who suffer alone in their struggle.

When they march them off to prison, they will go for you and me.
If draft resisters are prosecuted, it reflects on the whole society, and people should not ignore them.

Shame, disgrace and all dishonor, wrongly placed upon their heads
Draft resisters are shamed and dishonored by society, even though they are standing up for what is right.

Will not rob them of the courage which betrays the innocent
Despite society's condemnation, the draft resisters maintain their courage of standing up against what is wrong.

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