Steve Earle: Mercenary Song

SONG Mercenary Song

WRITTEN BY Steve Earle

PERFORMED BY Steve Earle

APPEARS ON Train a-Comin' (1995), Heartworn Highways (2006)

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 version below 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.

LYRICS

Me and ol' Billy we both come from Georgia
Met Hank out in New Mexico
We're bound for Durango to join Pancho Villa
We hear that he's payin' in gold

I guess a man's got to do what he's best at
Ain't found nothin' better so far
Been called mercenaries and men with no country
Just soldiers in search of a war

And we're bound for the border
We're soldiers of fortune
And we'll fight for no country but we'll die for good pay
Under the flag of of the greenback dollar
Or the peso down Mexico way

When this war is over might go back to Georgia
And settle down quiet some where
I'll most likely pack up and head south for Chile
Heard tell there's some trouble down there

And we're bound for the border
We're soldiers of fortune
And we'll fight for no country but we'll die for good pay
Under the flag of of the greenback dollar
Or the peso down Mexico way

And we're bound for the border...

Mercenary Song (Album Version) - Steve Earle