This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
It's up to you not to heed the call-up
'N' you must not act the way you were brought up
Who knows the reasons why you have grown up?
Who knows the plans or why they were drawn up?
It's up to you not to heed the call-up
I don't want to die!
It's up to you not to hear the call-up
I don't want to kill!
For he who will die
Is he who will kill
Maybe I want to see the wheat fields
Over Kiev and down to the sea
All the young people down the ages
They gladly marched off to die
Proud city fathers used to watch them
Tears in their eyes
There is a rose that I want to live for
Although, God knows, I may not have met her
There is a dance an' I should be with her
There is a town - unlike any other
It's up to you not to hear the call-up
'N' you must not act the way you were brought up
Who give you work an' why should you do it?
At fifty five minutes past eleven
There is a rose...
Yeah!
'N' you must not act the way you were brought up
Who knows the reasons why you have grown up?
Who knows the plans or why they were drawn up?
It's up to you not to heed the call-up
I don't want to die!
It's up to you not to hear the call-up
I don't want to kill!
For he who will die
Is he who will kill
Maybe I want to see the wheat fields
Over Kiev and down to the sea
All the young people down the ages
They gladly marched off to die
Proud city fathers used to watch them
Tears in their eyes
There is a rose that I want to live for
Although, God knows, I may not have met her
There is a dance an' I should be with her
There is a town - unlike any other
It's up to you not to hear the call-up
'N' you must not act the way you were brought up
Who give you work an' why should you do it?
At fifty five minutes past eleven
There is a rose...
Yeah!
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It's about rebelling against the millitary draft.
Why is there only one comment to this song. It is great. Yeah draft dodging hreat video and really shows the bands social consciense. Snadanista has some really great political songs on it. It also talks about the cold war at fifty five minuits past eleven I've always considered that a reference to the nuclear clock.
On Super Black Market Clash "The Cool Out" is the instrumental version of this song.
Great anti war stuff. Lyrics are straightforward enough...work it out!
"Maybe I wanna see the wheatfields Over Kiev and down to the sea".
A wonderful protest song of militarism.
The Clash really did soundtrack the Cold War
Great song from great album
Another timeless Clash song. It may have been written at the height of the Cold War, but it is so appropriate now with the Iraq War- especially with the troop surge. I wish radio stations would have had the balls to play this recently. But of course the only Clash songs you hear on the radio is Rock the Casbah, London Calling, and Should I Stay. Corporate radio really sucks!
It is an anti draft song!!!! it is awsome too. The cool out is a dub of this song.
Pretty obvious on this one... it's an anti war, anti military song. It's up to you not to heed the call. Don't kill, don't enlist, don't go to war. Go AWOL. Military recruiters are vultures. Fuck the military. Fight war, not wars!
Hut 2 3 4 i Love the marine corps!!!