I woke up early this mornin'   I was feelin' kind of blue   My landlady said you got a letter here   And I began to sing the blues      It was from my brother   Don't you know the boy's laying down in Vietnam?   Lord they say, you don't have no reason to fight, baby   But Lord knows you think you're right   (But you got to be wrong, don't you hear me)   (You got to be wrong, now pick up)      You wake up early in the mornin', baby   And you don't have nothin' to eat   You can't buy yourself no clothes, baby   Lord knows who can you meet      My brother's in Vietnam   People don't you know just why I'm singin' these blues   You might have no respect for your country, darlin'   But that's why, that's why I'm singin' these blues   (You better pick up baby and get with it, you hear me? Look here)      The mothers, all the wives   All the fathers, that have sons   In Vietnam, you hear me?   This is to you, always      Oh, I'm gonna wake up early in the mornin'   People I'm 'bout to go out of my god-darn' mind   Lord, I'm gonna wake up early in the mornin'   People I'm 'bout to go out of my god-darn' mind   It's so sad, it's so sad to think about your people   Lord, when the other man thinks they're wrong   (You're not right baby, hear this just before I go)      Lord I woke up in the mornin'   You're gonna look up   You're gonna look up and find yourself gone   Lord, I woke up this mornin'   You're gonna look up and find yourself gone      (How would you feel if it was your brother over there, eh?)   (How would you feel?)   Lord, then you're gonna ask the good Lord to forgive you   Please forgive me for my sins