MacArthur Speaks

Performed by Jimmie Short
Recorded 1951
Written by Short and Bristol

[voice of General Douglas MacArthur speaking before a joint session of Congress, April 19, 1951]:
" When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that "old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.

Good Bye."

There spoke the greatest gen'ral of them all
With his intent for peace to dare
Remember, those old soldiers never die
They just slowly fade away

Wars he fought that you and I might live
So each of us should pray
That Doug MacArthur's spirit never dies
Or his mem'ry fade away

I just left your son in Korea
You will want him home someday
To hold him in your loving arms again
That's what MacArthur had to say

Wars he fought that you and I might live
So each of us should pray
That Doug MacArthur's spirit never dies
Nor his mem'ry fade away

[lyrics transcribed by listening. Send corrections via the contact link on the main page]