Song Lyrics

Study war no more
Lay down your arms
Study war no more
Lay 'em down, lay 'em down now
Study war no more
Lay down your arms
Study war no more

Newsreels rattle the Nazi dread
The able-bodied have shipped away (lay down your arms)
Molly McGee gets her tea leaves read
You'll be married in a month they say (lay down your arms)
"These leaves are crazy
Look at this town, there's no men left (lay down your arms)
Just frail old boys and babies
Talking to teacher in the treble clef"
(Study war no more)

She plants her garden in the spring (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
She does the winter shoveling (lay 'em down, lay 'em down now)
(Study war no more)
Tokyo Rose on the radio (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
She says she's leavin', but she don't go
(Study war no more)

Out of the blue, just passin' through
A young flight sergeant
On two weeks leave (lay down your arms)
Says, "Molly McGee, no one else will do"
And seals the tea-leaf prophecy (lay down your arms)
Oh, these nights are strong and soft
Private passions and secret storms (lay down your arms)
Nothin' about him ticks her off
And he looks so cute in his uniform
(Study war no more)

She plants her garden in the spring (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
He does the winter shoveling (lay 'em down, lay 'em down now)
(Study war no more)
But summer's just a sneeze
In a long, long, bad winter cold (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
She says, "I'm leavin' here," but she don't go
(Study war no more)

"Sleep little darlin'
This is your happy home (lay down your arms)
Hiroshima cannot be pardoned
Don't have kids when you get grown (lay down your arms)
Because, this world is shattered
The wise are mourning
The fools are joking (lay down your arms)
Oh, what does it matter?
The wash needs ironing
And the fire needs stoking"

She plants her garden in the spring (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
He does the winter shoveling (lay 'em down, lay 'em down now)
(Study war no more)
The three of 'em laughing 'round the radio (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
She says, "I'm leavin' here," but she don't go
(Study war no more)

She plants her garden in the spring (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
They do the winter shoveling (lay 'em down, lay 'em down now)
(Study war no more)
Sit up late, watch the Johnny Carson show (lay down your arms)
(Study war no more)
She says, "I'm leavin' here, but she don't go"

Joni Mitchell, Larry Klein

The duration of The Tea Leaf Prophecy is 4:54 minutes and seconds.