[Verse 1]
Oh, I'm just a typical American boy
From a typical American town
I believe in God and Senator Dodd
And in keepin' old Castro down
And when it came my time to serve
I knew "better dead than red"
But when I got to my old draft board
Buddy, this is what I said

[Chorus]
Sarge, I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I've got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
And my asthma's getting worse
Yes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear
And my poor old invalid aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to school
And I'm working in a defense plant

[Verse 2]
I've got a dislocated disc and a wracked up back
I'm allergic to flowers and bugs
And when the bombshell hits, I get epileptic fits
And I'm addicted to a thousand drugs
I got the weakness woes, I can't touch my toes
I can hardly reach my knees
And if the enemy came close to me
Why I'd probably start to sneeze
[Chorus]
I'm only eighteen, got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I've got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
And my asthma's getting worse
Yes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear
And my poor old invalid aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to school
And I'm working in a defense plant

[Verse 3]
Ooh, I hate Chou En Lai, and I hope he dies
But one thing you gotta see
That someone's gotta go over there
And that someone isn't me
So I wish you well, Sarge, give 'em hell
Kill me a thousand or so
And if you ever get a war without blood and gore
I'll be the first to go

[Chorus]
Yes, I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I've got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
And my asthma's getting worse
Yes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear
And my poor old invalid aunt
Besides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to school
And I'm working in a defense plant