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