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 wannabe 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, hey

Well, I don't wanna be a soldier 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 wannabe 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, hey

Oh 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
I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't wanna die
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no


Lyrics submitted by Joekubrick, edited by DanMercury

I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Lyrics as written by John Lennon

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Groovy song.

    Eatcarpeton April 04, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    love this song... has such a nice flow to it

    stpfan22on April 16, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    think its simple, John Lennon just wants to be John Lennon

    justedbinon November 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Basically an anti war song IMHO with a few other things thrown in that John didn't want to be, some of it not making great sense as he has just thrown in words that rhyme with die. I quite like it. I was just thinking there are a few of his songs that list things in a similar fashion - God, Oh Yoko, Give Peace A Chance .....

    Sunnyhillon January 22, 2020   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    worst song on the album. way too long, repetitive, and cliche. the anti-I Want You (She's So Heavy) in terms of it closing side one of Imagine.

    JohnnyLurgon December 09, 2012   Link

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