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I am just an aging drummer boy
And in the wars I used to play
And I've called the tune to many a torture session
Now they say I am a war criminal
And I'm fading away
Father, please hear my confession
I have legalized robbery
Called it belief
I have run with the money
I have hid like a thief
Rewritten history with armies and my crooks
Invented memories
I did burn all the books
And I can still hear his laughter
And I can still hear his song
The man's too big
The man's too strong
Well, I've tried to be meek
I have tried to be mild
But I spat like a woman
And I sulked like a child
I have lived behind walls that have made me alone
Striven for peace
Which I never have known
And I can still hear his laughter
And I can still hear his song
The man's too big
The man's too strong
Well, the sun rose on the courtyard
And we all did hear him say
"You always was a Judas,
But I got you anyway.
You may have got your silver
But I swear upon my life
Your sister gave me diamonds
And I laid down with your wife."
Oh father, please help me
For I have done wrong
The man's too big
The man's too strong
And in the wars I used to play
And I've called the tune to many a torture session
Now they say I am a war criminal
And I'm fading away
Father, please hear my confession
I have legalized robbery
Called it belief
I have run with the money
I have hid like a thief
Rewritten history with armies and my crooks
Invented memories
I did burn all the books
And I can still hear his laughter
And I can still hear his song
The man's too big
The man's too strong
Well, I've tried to be meek
I have tried to be mild
But I spat like a woman
And I sulked like a child
I have lived behind walls that have made me alone
Striven for peace
Which I never have known
And I can still hear his laughter
And I can still hear his song
The man's too big
The man's too strong
Well, the sun rose on the courtyard
And we all did hear him say
"You always was a Judas,
But I got you anyway.
You may have got your silver
But I swear upon my life
Your sister gave me diamonds
And I laid down with your wife."
Oh father, please help me
For I have done wrong
The man's too big
The man's too strong
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by OtterSpotter, KoosG
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The song seems to reference Germany and Hitler fairly well. I always felt the song was a view back from Rudolf Hess. He helped put Hitler into power and was beside him all the way. He left him to cut a deal with Britain (didnt make much sense to anybody but didnt say he was sane) and was put in jail. After the war he was convicted of war crimes and put in prison. He died in Spandau prison, I believe in the early 80's but not really sure. Of all the high ranking Nazis he was the only one to not get the death penalty at Nurmburg. People did speculate about what Hess know about deals cut between governments (like the deal between Hitler and Stalin that divided up Poland and gave the Baltic States to the USSR). If the story is being told to You (either the UK or the US) then your sister would the the USSR and your wife (either the UK or the US). Haunting song with a lot to build on. Let me know what you think.
I believe that Mephtis has nailed it: The lyrics appear to reflect the role, as well as the actions of Rudolf Hess.<br /> <br /> I've pondered this for nearly 25 years, and look forward to any and all feedback, critisism(s), and general thoughts on the matter.
@Mephitis Assumes facts not in evidence. Any comment on the motives of Hess and his flight to Britain are still speculation.
@Mephitis <br /> <br /> Died mid eighties. I remember the news article around 85, 86.<br /> <br /> Interesting tidbit: The book "the square circle" later made into the movie "wild geese <br /> II" was about a team of mercs hired to spring Rudolph Hess from spandau. By the <br /> end of the story, the mercs were whittled down and Hess was left unguarded.<br /> <br /> it the story, Hess simply returned to spandau as he had nowhere to go.