Mercenary Song

Story songs generally propagate the exploits of mythic figures or relate the adventures of larger-than-life characters. The story of John Henry is one of the oldest and most famous American story songs, one that school children still learn today. The fun thing about them is that they invite the listener to identify with the protagonist: Thus, for a few minutes, any of us can become a "steel drivin' man" stronger than anyone around. Steve Earle's "Mercenary Song" combines the tradition of the story song with the masculine ideal of a laconic man who "does what he's best at" regardless of the danger or personal cost. In this case, the unnamed mercenary finds himself not only alienated from the comforts and familiarity of his home state of Georgia, but from his country as well ("Been called mercenaries and men with no country"). The unsavoriness of his profession will always make it difficult to "go back to Georgia" and "settle down quiet." At the same time, there's an undeniable romantic lure to being "soldiers in search of a war." The pursuit takes the mercenary to exotic locales such as Durango, Mexico, and Chile, and allows him to rub shoulders with the likes of Pancho Villa. And, he's able to march to his own beat "under the flag of the greenback dollar or the peso down Mexico way." Earle sings "Mercenary Song" song with such skill that he evokes both the allure and fatalism of this sentiment, especially given the prior line "we'll fight for no country but we'll die for good pay." "Mercenary Song" is one of the Steve Earle's first songs and remains one of his best. You can hear an early version on Heartworn Highways (recorded and filmed around 1980) or check out the versio on his outstanding album Train A-Comin'. Train was the first of a run of five superb albums released by Earle between 1995-2000, culminating in Transcendental Blues (2000), arguably his finest work.

[Verse 1] Me and old Bill there, we both come from Georgia Met Hank out in New Mexico We're bound for Duranqo to join Pancho Villa We hear that he's paying in gold I guess a man's got to do what he's best at Ain't found nothing better so far Been called mercenaries and men with no country Just soldiers in search of a war [Chorus] And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune Well, we'll fight for no country, but we'll die for good pay Under the flag of the greenback dollar Or the peso down Mexico way [Verse 2] When this war is over might go back to Georgia And settle down quiet somewhere I'll most likely pack up and head south for Chile Heard tell of some trouble down there [Chorus] And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune Well, we'll fight for no country, but we'll die for good pay Under the flag of the greenback dollar Or the peso down Mexico way And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune We'll fight for no country, but we'll die for good pay Under the flag of the greenback dollar Or the peso down Mexico way And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune We'll fight for no country, but we'll die for good pay Under the flag of the greenback dollar Or the peso down Mexico way