Universal Soldier is a beautiful song, one of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s masterpieces. The song was written in 1963, in Toronto, in the basement of The Purple Onion Café. It is a protest song about all the soldiers in the world, not just in Vietnam War. Buffy is not from the United States she is from Canada. That affects the song because she is not talking about the soldiers in America only; she is referring to all soldiers in the world and their impact in the universe.
In this song, the issue is that each soldier has to decide whether or not he is going to kill someone, or if he is going to try to make peace. It also tells the listeners that if there wasn’t a soldier Hitler would not have been so powerful. This song shows America that there are soldiers all around the world. I think that she is trying to say that we are all soldiers and we are all fighting in this war. Buffy makes me feel like if there were no soldiers there would be no war, she is almost blaming the soldiers for the war. But the soldiers say they are trying to make peace. The melody of the song really enhances the lyrics because it is a little slow and a bit melancholic, which complements the meaningful lyrics. The vocals and guitar are used in the song.
“He’s the one, who must decide, who is to live, and who is to die” is a very powerful phrase, because it is putting much pressure in to the soldier, and it makes them feel so responsible for the war. “He’s fighting for Canada. He’s fighting for France. He’s fighting for the USA. And he’s fighting for the Russians. And he’s fighting for Japan.” These are key phrases because they all tell the title of the song “Universal Soldier”. The phrases are saying that the soldier is anywhere in the universe. “He’s 5 foot 2 and he’s 6 feet 4. And he fights with missiles and with spears. He’s all of 31 and he’s only 17. And he’s been a soldier for a thousand years.” Is another key phrase because it says that we are all soldiers and we have always been. I believe that Buffy Sainte-Marie intension is to say that soldiers have and will always be everywhere in the universe, and that they can either make peace, or be blamed for war. It is a pretty strong statement, but she managed to put it in a very emotional and beautiful song.
He’s 5 foot 2 and he’s 6 feet 4
And he fights with missiles and with spears
He’s all of 31 and he’s only 17.
And he’s been a soldier for a thousand years
He’s a catholic, a Hindu, an atheist, a Jane
A boarders, a Baptist and Jew.
And he knows he shouldn’t ‘ve killed
And he knows he always will kill
You’ll for me my freidn and me for you
He’s fighting for Canada.
He’s fighting for France.
He’s fighting for the USA.
And he’s fighting for the Russians.
And he’s fighting for Japan
And he thinks we’ll brought an end to war this way.
He’s fighting for democracy,
he’s fighting for the reds
He says it’s for the peace of all.
He’s the one, who must decide,
who’s to live and who’s to die.
And he never sees the writing on the walls.
But without him,
how would Hitler have condemned him at Dachau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone
He’s the one who gives is body
as a weapon to the war.
And without him all this killing can’t go on
He’s the universal soldier
And he really is the blame
But his orders comes from
far away no more.
They come from him.
And you and me.
Oh, brothers can’t you see.
This is not the way we put an end to war
And he fights with missiles and with spears
He’s all of 31 and he’s only 17.
And he’s been a soldier for a thousand years
He’s a catholic, a Hindu, an atheist, a Jane
A boarders, a Baptist and Jew.
And he knows he shouldn’t ‘ve killed
And he knows he always will kill
You’ll for me my freidn and me for you
He’s fighting for Canada.
He’s fighting for France.
He’s fighting for the USA.
And he’s fighting for the Russians.
And he’s fighting for Japan
And he thinks we’ll brought an end to war this way.
He’s fighting for democracy,
he’s fighting for the reds
He says it’s for the peace of all.
He’s the one, who must decide,
who’s to live and who’s to die.
And he never sees the writing on the walls.
But without him,
how would Hitler have condemned him at Dachau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone
He’s the one who gives is body
as a weapon to the war.
And without him all this killing can’t go on
He’s the universal soldier
And he really is the blame
But his orders comes from
far away no more.
They come from him.
And you and me.
Oh, brothers can’t you see.
This is not the way we put an end to war
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