Santo Domingo Songtext
von Phil Ochs

And the crabs are crazy
They scuttle back and forth, the sand is burning
And the fish take flight
And scatter from the sight, their course is turning
As the seagulls rest
On the cold cannon nest, the sea is churning
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo

The fishermen sweat
They′re pausing at their nets, the day's a-burning
As the warships sway
And thunder in the bay, loud in the morning
But the boy on the shore
Is throwing pebbles no more, he runs a-warning
That the Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo


The streets are still
There′s silence in the hills, the town is sleeping
And the farmers yawn
In the grey silver dawn, the fields they're keeping
As the first troops land
And step into the sand, the flags are weeping
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo

The unsmiling sun is shining
Down upon the singing soldiers
In the cloud-dust whirl
They whistle at the girls, they're getting bolder
Ah, the old women sigh
Think of memories gone by, they shrug their shoulders
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo

Ready for the tricks
Their bayonets are fixed, now they are rolling
And the tanks make tracks
Past the trembling shacks where fear′s unfolding
All the young wives afraid
Turn their backs to the parade with babes they′re holding
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo


A bullet cracks the sound
The army hits the ground, the sniper's calling
So they open up their guns
A thousand to one, no sense in stalling
He clutches at his head
And totters on the edge, look now, he′s falling
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo

In the red plaza square
The crowds come to stare, the heat is leaning
And the eyes of the dead
Are turning every head to the widows screaming
But the soldiers make a bid
Giving candy to the kids, their teeth are gleaming
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo

Up and down the coast
The generals drink a toast, the wheel is spinning
And the cowards and the whores
Are peeking through the doors to see who's winning
But the traitors will pretend
That it′s getting near the end when it's beginning
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo

And the crabs are crazy
They scuttle back and forth, the sand is burning
And the fish take flight
And scatter from the sight, their course is turning
As the seagulls rest
On the cold cannon nest, the sea is churning
The Marines have landed on the shores of Santo Domingo