I ain't marching anymore by Phil Ochs-the military history of the United States

I ain’t marching anymore is a song from Phil Ochs. It deals with various important battles and wars of the American history. America has a long and complicated military history; the US had been involved in numerous wars and battles and had had a lot of influences on the course of human event.  Ochs came up during the Vietnam War with this song. It was used in a lot of protests and demonstrations against it. The song is sung from the perspective of a single soldier (which is of course not possible), who claims to have taken place in every of these wars.

“Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans

At the end of the early British war

The young land started growing

The young blood started flowing

But I ain't marchin' anymore”

In the first verse Ochs refers to the Battle of New Orleans (1815), which took place during the British war, also known as the Anglo American war or the war of 1812. The Battle of New Orleans was the last big battle of the Anglo American war. The American defeated the British and in the end of the war, the status quo ante bellum was reintroduced, in other words everything remained like it was before.

“For I've killed my share of Indians

In a thousand different fights

I was there at the Little Big Horn

I heard many men lying I saw many more dying

But I ain't marchin' anymore”

In the second verse Ochs sings about the Native American war/American Indian war/Indian War which lasts from the 16^th until the 19^th century. During that time the subjugation of the indigenous people of America took place. The American settlers fought multiple times against the American indigenous people, one of the thousands battles they went through was the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876). The Battle of the Little Big Horn represents one of the only victories of the Indian tribes (Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, Arapahoe) against the US government.

“For I stole California from the Mexican land

Fought in the bloody Civil War

Yes I even killed my brothers

And so many others But I ain't marchin' anymore”

The Mexican War and the Civil War are mentioned in the third verse.
The Mexican war, also known as the American-Mexican war is the conflict between the two countries from 1846-1848. The US wanted to expand their territory and managed to invade several regions of Mexico. They also had a dispute about the, at this stage, independent Texas. Mexico didn’t recognise the independence; the consequence: a battle between Mexico and the US. In the end the US invaded Texas and California.
Furthermore the Civil War place a role in this verse. It took place from 1861 to 1865. It was a conflict between the Confederate States and the United States, triggered by their attitudes towards slavery. The Confederate states were in favour of slavery, the United States considered slavery as degrading.  After the victory of the United States, slavery was abolished.

“For I marched to the battles of the German trench

In a war that was bound to end all wars

Oh I must have killed a million men

And now they want me back again

But I ain't marchin' anymore”

The fourth verse is about the Americans in World War 1. Before 1917 the US was an important supplier for Britain and other Allied powers. In 1918 the US forces fought in large numbers at the Western Front until victory was achieved.

“For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky

Set off the mighty mushroom roar

When I saw the cities burning I knew that I was learning

That I ain't marchin' anymore”

During the Pacific War, Japan attacked pearl harbour, which resulted in the joining of the US in the Pacific war and consequently also in World War 2. During World War 2 the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Furthermore the US fought against Germany and Italy with the Allies.

“Now the labor leader's screamin'

when they close the missile plants,

United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,

Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason,"

Call it "Love" or call it "Reason,"

But I ain't marchin' any more,

No I ain't marchin' any more”

And last but not least, the Cuba Crises is mentioned. Because of the deployment of missiles of the US in Turkey, the Soviet Union stationed medium range missiles at Cuba; as a result the US threatened to use atomic bombs, if necessary. After 15 terrifying days (1962), they came to an agreement: The US removed the missiles in Turkey and Russia removed the missiles in Cuba.

I am not sure if I have interpreted every song correctly or if the facts about the single wars/battles are totally faultless, but I gave it a try, just to give you an overview about the military history of the US. If you have any further information or suggestions of improvement, please feel free to add them in a comment.

Have a nice Sunday :)