Uploaded January 2016 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Oh can you tell me Oh how the joy
Passed from his childhood That's not my boy
I see he's finished, he's run his race
We're not his family, that's not his face
We taught him well And from his youth
He knew he always Must know the truth
He left his country to go to war
When he returned, he'd found we closed the door
But we never dreamed when he was leaving
That he would taste the flowers of evil
I know his habit was not so bad
When for fifty dollars it could be had
But now he's home to his promised land
And what he needs got to cost a Grand
When he'd been home for six month's time
My son he told me, he'd made up his mind
He's re-enlisted for three years more
It's too expensive to stop this war
But we never dreamed when he was leaving
That he would taste the flowers of evil
Oh can you tell me, Oh how the joy
Passed from his childhood That's not my boy
He's re-enlisted, for three years more
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Leslie West - guitar, vocals
Felix Pappalardi - bass, vocals
Corky Laing - drums, percussion
Steve Knight - organ
All lyrics and music are the intellectual property of those listed. If you enjoy the music, please honor the rights of the owners to receive compensation for their gifts and effort - purchase their work.
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Please feel free to use this as a teaching, history or research tool, or for social commentary.
Oh can you tell me Oh how the joy
Passed from his childhood That's not my boy
I see he's finished, he's run his race
We're not his family, that's not his face
We taught him well And from his youth
He knew he always Must know the truth
He left his country to go to war
When he returned, he'd found we closed the door
But we never dreamed when he was leaving
That he would taste the flowers of evil
I know his habit was not so bad
When for fifty dollars it could be had
But now he's home to his promised land
And what he needs got to cost a Grand
When he'd been home for six month's time
My son he told me, he'd made up his mind
He's re-enlisted for three years more
It's too expensive to stop this war
But we never dreamed when he was leaving
That he would taste the flowers of evil
Oh can you tell me, Oh how the joy
Passed from his childhood That's not my boy
He's re-enlisted, for three years more
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Is the price of peace worth the price of war?
Leslie West - guitar, vocals
Felix Pappalardi - bass, vocals
Corky Laing - drums, percussion
Steve Knight - organ
All lyrics and music are the intellectual property of those listed. If you enjoy the music, please honor the rights of the owners to receive compensation for their gifts and effort - purchase their work.
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Please feel free to use this as a teaching, history or research tool, or for social commentary.
