#327 - Ballad of Eddie Slovik

The true story of the only man shot for desertion in WWII. Lyrics below are slightly different and were updated once I learned a bit more. This song is a “lost” song that I had words to from 2009 but had to rewrite the music (tonight). I am slowly posting the gaps in my 1100 song catalogue so my upcoming book of lyrics will enable one to search for any song by title online. 327- Ballad Of Eddie Slovik ©2009 by Rob Lincoln (No Capo) Intro Em Em D C D He stood five foot six and the age of twenty two He was a clerk and cook, it was all that he could do For he had stole a car and he had been in jail But he abhorred all violence though it was to no avail Refrain-Eddie had gone for a soldier He got married and then drafted and sent off to the war “With total inability” later said Lieutenant Shaw Then he ran away said he was so scared He cooked and did some odd jobs for six weeks they did not care Refrain-Eddie had gone for a soldier Bridge Eddie was sent to battle; he didn’t want to fight Tried again to run away but the army set him right Guilty as charge for dereliction of duty They said he would be shot but no one really could believe None had been shot for desertion since 1864 In the 20th century this was now a modern war But Ike decided of the 50,000 men or more That one deserter must be an example To wear a modern crown of thorns On a January morning in 1945 As they marched him to the courtyard, he felt so scared inside A black hood placed around his head, they pointed and they fired As the volleys splattered blood and flesh, Eddie Slovik went to his death Eddie had died for a soldier