Jackson Browne performs “The Drums Of War” at the 28th Annual Claremont Folk Music Festival on May 3rd 2008.
Roll out the drums of war
Roll up the cover of the killing floor
Roll out the drums of war
And let’s speak of things worth fighting for
Roll out the drums of war
Time Comes when everything you ever thought you knew
Comes crashing down and flames rise up in front of you
Roll out the drums of war
Roll back the freedoms that we struggled for
What were those freedoms for?
Let’s not talk about it any more
Roll out the drums of war
Whatever you believe the necessary course to be
Depends on who you trust to identify the enemy
Who beats the drums for war?
Even before peace is lost
Who are the profits for?
And who are they who bear the cost
When a country takes the low road to war
Who gives the orders, orders to torture?
Who gets to no bid contract the future?
Who lies, then bombs, then calls it an error?
Who makes a fortune from fighting terror?
Who is the enemy trying to crush us?
Who is the enemy of truth and justice?
Who is the enemy of peace and freedom?
Where are the courts, now when we need them?
Why is impeachment not on the table?
We better stop them while we are able
Roll out the drums of war
Whatever you believe the necessary course to be
Depends on who you trust to identify the enemy
Who beats the drums for war?
Even before peace is lost
Who are the profits for?
And who are they who bear the cost
And who lay down their lives?
And who will live with the sacrifice
Of our best and brightest hopes,
The flower of our youth,
Of freedom, and the truth?
Songwriters: Jackson Browne / Jeffrey Young / Kevin James McCormick / Mark Goldenberg / Mauricio Fritz Lewak
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. Political protest came to the fore in Browne’s music in the 1986 album, Lives in the Balance, an explicit condemnation of U.S. policy in Central America.