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Pete Seeger - Where Have All the Flowers Gone
This is a poetic folk song ruing the loss of innocence that war brings. This song was an exceptionally popular folk tune in the 1960’s and was recorded first by Pete Seeger and subsequently by both the Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary. It is a simple, but haunting folk anthem written for the socially conscious, college-aged subculture of the decade.

This song, along with Bob Dylan’s "Blowin’ in the Wind" and "Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right" and Peter, Paul and Mary’s "If I Had a Hammer" (coauthored by Seeger), could be used to springboard discussions about citizenship and social responsibility.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone for husbands everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the husbands gone, long time passing?
Where have all the husbands gone, long time ago?
Where have all the husbands gone?
Gone for soldiers everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Words and Music by Pete Seeger (1955)
(c) 1961 (renewed) by Sanga Music Inc.