Last Train to Nuremberg

Annotation

Seeger's 1971 anti-war song "Last Train to Nuremberg" (Columbia Records # 4-45398) condemned the My Lai massacre and pointed the finger at several layers of society that had "blood upon" their "hands". Nuremberg referred to the location of the criminal trials that took place after the Second World War. Therefore, in the lyrics, Seeger imagined those responsible for the My Lai atrocities to be together on a train, to face justice for their crimes. Firstly, it named two of the soldiers involved - the well-known William Calley, and Captain Medina (a commanding officer of the platoon in question - is this the only song to mention him)? He faced court-martial for war crimes, but was acquitted in 1971.1 Seeger then moved on to the politicians, referring to Richard Nixon and "both houses of Congress" - wanting to know "who gave the orders?" and "planned the campaign" (which could have meant either the politicians or the military establishment). Seeger then turned his attention to the military-industrial complex, asking the question: "who manufactured the bullet". Finally, Seeger took his analysis a step further, pointing the finger at all Americans, singing: "do I see the voters, me and you...who paid the taxes? Tell me, is that blood upon my hands?". It featured as the opening track on the 1971 album Rainbow Race (Columbia # C 30739). The lyrics and notations appeared in Broadside magazine, # 104, January 1970.Sources1Famous Trials (UMKC Law): MYL MEDT↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs

Seeger's 1971 anti-war song "Last Train to Nuremberg" (Columbia Records # 4-45398) condemned the My Lai massacre and pointed the finger at several layers of society that had "blood upon" their "hands". Nuremberg referred to the location of the criminal trials that took place after the Second World War. Therefore, in the lyrics, Seeger imagined those responsible for the My Lai atrocities to be together on a train, to face justice for their crimes. Firstly, it named two of the soldiers involved - the well-known William Calley, and Captain Medina (a commanding officer of the platoon in question - is this the only song to mention him)? He faced court-martial for war crimes, but was acquitted in 1971.1 Seeger then moved on to the politicians, referring to Richard Nixon and "both houses of Congress" - wanting to know "who gave the orders?" and "planned the campaign" (which could have meant either the politicians or the military establishment). Seeger then turned his attention to the military-industrial complex, asking the question: "who manufactured the bullet". Finally, Seeger took his analysis a step further, pointing the finger at all Americans, singing: "do I see the voters, me and you...who paid the taxes? Tell me, is that blood upon my hands?". It featured as the opening track on the 1971 album Rainbow Race (Columbia # C 30739). The lyrics and notations appeared in Broadside magazine, # 104, January 1970. Sources1Famous Trials (UMKC Law): MYL MEDT↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Pete Seeger Songs

Seeger's 1971 anti-war song "Last Train to Nuremberg" (Columbia Records # 4-45398) condemned the My Lai massacre and pointed the finger at several layers of society that had "blood upon" their "hands". Nuremberg referred to the location of the criminal trials that took place after the Second World War. Therefore, in the lyrics, Seeger imagined those responsible for the My Lai atrocities to be together on a train, to face justice for their crimes. Firstly, it named two of the soldiers involved - the well-known William Calley, and Captain Medina (a commanding officer of the platoon in question - is this the only song to mention him)? He faced court-martial for war crimes, but was acquitted in 1971.2 Seeger then moved on to the politicians, referring to Richard Nixon and "both houses of Congress" - wanting to know "who gave the orders?" and "planned the campaign" (which could have meant either the politicians or the military establishment). Seeger then turned his attention to the military-industrial complex, asking the question: "who manufactured the bullet". Finally, Seeger took his analysis a step further, pointing the finger at all Americans, singing: "do I see the voters, me and you...who paid the taxes? Tell me, is that blood upon my hands?". It featured as the opening track on the 1971 album Rainbow Race (Columbia # C 30739). The lyrics and notations appeared in Broadside magazine, # 104, January 1970.Sources2Famous Trials (UMKC Law): MYL MEDT↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Last train to Nuremberg, all on board / Do I see Lieutenant Calley? / Do I see Captain Medina? / Do I see Gen'ral Koster and all his crew? / Do I see President Nixon / Do I see both houses of Congress? / Do I see the voters, me and you? / Who held the rifle? / Who gave the orders? / Who planned the campaign to lay waste the land? / Who manufactured the bullet? / Who paid the taxes? / Tell me is that blood upon my hands? / If five hundred thousand mothers went to Washington snd said, 'Bring all of our boys home without delay' would the man they came to see, say he was too busy? / Would he say he had to watch a football game?

Notes

Columbia 4-45398 (JZSS 154256), turquoise promotional label marked "Not for resale" and "Radio station copy", 45 RPM, stereo; "Last Train to Nuremberg" (P. Seeger), intro :10, 2:40, publisher Sanga Music, Inc. (BMI); produced by Bob Johnston. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Iconic American contemporary folk singer, Pete Seeger (born 3 May 1919 in Manhattan, New York, USA, died on 27 January 2014, same location) played a key role in the 1950s contemporary folk revival and the 1960s anti-war and Civil Rights movement. He often wrote political songs, protesting against war, segregation, and calling for environmental protection. His body of songs referencing the Vietnam War is significant in both themes and volume: "The Willing Conscript" on the album Broadside Ballads Volume 2 (1963); "Beans in My Ear", "King Henry", and "The Draft Dodger Rag" on Dangerous Songs!?…

Themes

Anti-War · My Lai · Anti-Calley · Medina · Samuel Koster · Nixon

In collections

My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Pete Seeger Songs