OUR JOB

You must n't hate the enemy — that wastes a lot of “pep” —

The Colonel passed the word around the training camp to-day.

The Captain says with modern war we gotta all catch step;

“Cut out the rough-necked rage and talk, and do n't you think or say:

“‘ Pirates, rapists, murderers; poisoners and lying thieves;

Super-vandals, run amuck — black devils quoting sermons;

This world was mostly Heaven-made, our Chaplain, he believes;

But Hell itself conceived and spawned the Military Germans!

“The enemy is good at killing kids, and old folks, too;

Torpedoing hospital ships and blowin’ up our plants;

But cogitatin’ on their line of wicked things wo n't do;

We'll never hate‘ em off the map — just give the guns a chance!”

So we do n't go in for loathin’, and with anger we do n't burn;

We're drillin’, and we're diggin’, and we're workin’ all the while;

To put‘ er in the target is the trick we hafter learn —

And ev'ry man's a better shot when he can shoot — and smile!

The folks at home will spend their time a-broodin’ over all

The nasty devils do and on the details they can dwell;

It's up to us to learn this game, and then — when comes the call —

Pump lead into the enemy — and send him back to hell.