"I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama, I Don't Wanna Die" Lyrics

by John Lennon

Original Manuscript (1971)

(1) Well, I, don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Well, I, don't want to be a sailor mama, I don't wanna fly
Well, I, don't want to be a failure mama, I don't wanna cry
Well, I, don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die

(2) Well, I don't want to be a rich man mama, I don't wanna cry
Well, I, don't want to be a poor man, I don't wanna fly
Well, I, don't want to be a lawyer mama, I don't wanna lie
Well, I, don't want to be a bomber mama, I don't wanna die

(3) Well, I, don't want to be a beggar mama, I don't wanna die
Well, I, don't want to be a theif [sic] now mama, I don't wanna fly
Well, I, don't want to be a churchman mama, I don't wanna lie
Well, I, don't want to be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die

(oh no?
oh no?)

chorus?

As Released by John Lennon (1971)

Well I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Well I don't wanna be a sailor mama, I don't wanna fly
Well I don't wanna be a failure mama, I don't wanna cry
Well I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no

Well I don't wanna be a rich man mama, I don't wanna cry
Well I don't wanna be a poor man mama, I don't wanna fly
Well I don't wanna be a lawyer mama, I don't wanna lie
Well I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no

Well I don't wanna be a beggar mama, I don't wanna die
Well I don't wanna be a thief now mama, I don't wanna fly
Well I don't wanna be a churchman mama, I don't wanna cry
Well I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no
Hit it!

Well I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Well I don't wanna be a sailor mama, I don't wanna fly
Well I don't wanna be a failure mama, I don't wanna cry
Well I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no