by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967)

Language: English 
Listen here, Joe
Don't you know
That tomorrow
You got to go
Out yonder where
The steel winds blow?

Listen here, kid,
It's been said
Tomorrow you'll be dead
Out there where
The rain is lead.

Don't ask me why.
Just go ahead and die.
Hidden from the sky
Out yonder you'll lie:
A medal to your family --
In exchange for
A guy.

Mama, don't cry.

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Composition:

    Set to music by Elie Siegmeister (1909 - 1991), "Listen here, Joe", 1966, published 1978, orchestrated 1967 [ low voice and piano or orchestra ], from The Face of War, no. 2

Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-08-27
Line count: 19
Word count: 66