Johnny can't read Johnny can't write Johnny didn't have much of a life Oh yeah - oh yeah To fight their war he didn't believe in His father told him to be a marine Oh yeah - oh yeah Johnny told his father, he just could not He don't wanna live that way Oh yeah - oh yeah Johnny always thought there was something wrong Day by day singing his fathers song Johnny didn't want to live his life that way Now day to day, dying the military way Johnny was rough, Johhny was tough But not tough enough, to just say no Johnny went down to sign up that day They sent him down to basic training Johnny went to a foreign land He died in the hands of a foreign man We will always remember Johnny in his last days