Association, The - Requiem For The Masses Lyrics

This is when America was still drumming for something worth drumming for.

I introduced my young son to this song years ago. He loved the Assn. He has been gone now for 8 Christmas ago.

Happy Birthday, Terry!

I thought it was Paul Revere & The Raiders doing that

If this song doesn't give you goosebumps you have no soul.

One of my faves from way back when I was 13. No other group could top The Association...none. Their stuff was always tops. Too bad today's music has taken such a dive...mostly Garbage.

Powerful statement powerful chords ... simply beautiful.

A masterpiece in its own right.

Back in the spring of 1968 I was listening to the Doors song “Unknown Soldier”. Injected in the center of the song after the gunshots was Requiem. The impact of these two merged songs coupled with the fact that I was just a couple months away from registering for the draft became indelibly etched in my brain. I remember exactly what I was doing just like the moment when I heard President Kennedy was shot in Dallas. There was just a brief period between the McCarthy era and Watergate when one could rebel without fear of censorship or losing their livelihood. Unfortunately so few are aware or willing to admit how far down the rabbit hole we have gone.

A very powerful AntiWar song from the late 60s. My college roommate was a Latin major and translated the phrases for me.His brings back a flood of memories from that tumultuous period.

This song was on their greatest hits album, which was the first record album I ever bought. This song made my mom cry.

Number 100 on the pop charts.

six years ago I left comments on this classic.They hold true today as we salute Warriors,Past Present & Future!

The most musical group of the 60s this side of the Beatles and the Beach Boysa.

This was the B side of the 45 of 'Windy" I still have the 45.

the ultimate anti war song; amongst all the light & fluffy, feel good music of the 60's, this stood out like a beacon on a foggy day; it reminded me of the ending of the clint eastwood spaghetti movie, 'the good, the bad & the ugly.'

The magnificent harmonies throughout it absolutely give you chills! Such an amazing, underrated band was The Association! Flawless musicianship, incredible songwriting. Outstanding!

Resembles King Singers.

Only the deceased understand.

Releases feelings you didn’t know were there.

One of best anti-war songs of the Vietnam era..

One of the best anti war songs-period, I feel!

And an underrated song as well. @M Mireaux

Requiem aeternam, requiem aeternam
Mama, mama, forget your pies
Have faith they won't get cold
And turn your eyes to the bloodshot sky
Your flag is flying full
At half mast, for the matadors
Who turned their backs to please the crowd
And all fell before the bull
Red was the color of his blood flowing thin
Pallid white was the color of his lifeless skin
Blue was the color of the morning sky
He saw looking up from the ground where he died
It was the last thing ever seen by him
Kyrie Eleison
Mama, mama, forget your pies
Have faith they won't get cold
And turn your eyes to the bloodshot sky
Your flag is flying full
At half mast, for the matadors
Who turned their backs to please the crowd
And all fell before the bull
Black and white were the figures that recorded him
Black and white was the newsprint he was mentioned in
Black and white was the question that so bothered him
He never asked, he was taught not to ask
But was on his lips as they buried him
Rex tremendae majestatis
Requiem aeternam, Requiem aeternam

I think the last few lines of the lyrics refer to racism.

I have been able to listen to this song without crying..

Need more choirs

I was in Nam when this song came out.

I played this on my phone while looking for names on The Wall. Couldn't stop the tears.

I played this while visiting the wall. I cried uncontrollably.

One of the greatest of the anti-war songs of the 60's. The title alone sends shivers through to our very souls! RIP to all who lost their lives and continue to lose their lives, for the sake of war!

This is my very favourite of their songs which is very anti war. It actually is on my play list for my funeral.

This song is so incredible and so underrated. The Association are one of the best ever harmonizing bands. They can take one line and make it into a symphony.

Love the Association but not this song. Never goes anywhere but into a Catholic ritual, and a Catholic took us to Vietnam. This song is sad on many levels.

Spirit mover

This song simply blows away 100% of all of the music produced in the past ten years by what remains of the popular music business in Los Angeles and NYC.

Yes, not to mention no one under 60 who is not a law school student would know latin.

My choir director chose this song for this year's veteran's day concert. It's so powerful, even to my generation in high school.

Watching the Vietnam series on PBS remembered this song. Back then we heard it quite often the radio stations would not play it, Brings back alot of old memories good times and sad. Lost some good friends in that war! So why do we not learn from our mistakes the politicians lide to us back then. Why our our men dieing now in a no win situation again? We follow France in Vietnam now we are follow Russia in Afghanistan.

our band opened for them at Lagoon just outside of Salt Lake City in 67 and as we loaded in about 3 in the afternoon, the Association was rehearsing this on stage. I couldn't believe it. Record-perfect, as was everything else they later performed that evening.

Sharon Odell Burt brilliant! What a great memory.

Interesting.  You've told me something I already knew.

Pretentious twaddle.

Howso, Zigfeld? You all pro-war and killing and shit?

The first song that made me think about ther war and who 6he victums are

The most poignant, searing antiwar song from my youth. The lyrics mixed with the Catholic Mass sends chills...

Corbie Mitleid yes..more so than most..better than Simon and garfunkels anti war song..

I was on active duty in the USAF when this song came out... those of us who were deployed really identified with this song..... it still has a very large impact on me whenever I hear it.... those were not good times ... if  you were a soldier.

Thank you so very much for your service. My father was a Chief Master Sgt and we were living on Guam in the mid 60s. It was a SAC base and there was a B-52 bomber wing stationed there. My brother had a little league game and the ball field overlooked the flightline. In the middle of the game, they blew the sirens and within minutes the planes were lining up and taking off. It was pretty spectacular, ringside seats as it were, and the game paused while we all watched. When they didn't come back in 30 minutes like usual, there were a lot of worried looks on the adults. They didn't come back for over 12 hours. Next day we learned they had bombed Hanoi and I discovered the Vietnam War. I was about 12 years old. For me, this song is forever linked to that war and the intense sadness I felt after discovering we were involved. Not sure why I am sharing all this with you, but I wanted you to know how I truly respect and admire your time in the AF and a memory that cements that respect.

Will be playing this on Jan 20th.

A lot of us have been playing this for the last eight years.

Veteran's Day, November 11, 2016. Play the song and listen closely. Hold tighter now to what the hell it's all for than you ever have.

If ever there could be a fitting anthem for those 1960's, THIS IS IT!!! JFK, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. and RFK would I think all agree. With this seemingly endless stream of bloody murders of people who sought to advance the public good, and that for the express purpose of promoting the very thing JFK said in his 1963 speech to American University WE DIDN'T SEEK ("A Pax Americana Ruled by American Military Power") the National Security State has come of age. Until further notice, America IS a military police state. Questions? Suggest you look for "JFK to 911: Everything's a Rich Man's Trick" on You Tube.

Bruce Linton agree bro..these lyrics are timely then and now..I feel sad for our nation..

I was at Uni from 67 to 70 and this album was one of my most favourite. An under rated band but then so much great music was coming out of the West Coast (I was a Love fan especially). So many great memories during a time when so much was happening socially and politically ....

I have looked for this song for years. I always thought it was Requiem for a Bullfighter! Would of never guessed it was the Association.

GREAT SONG. NEVER HEAR IT ON OLDIES STATIONS.

+ Craig Hickman,

Welcome home brother.Job well done

Some times Boomers,talent out shines "geetar breaking,drum destroying bullshit" from you know WHO...Sophomoric antics,I have to say,are very present in even superior sixties era music and a decade later music.Stooopid painted up no talent bozo's like KISS,loud as hell,have nothing to say except,"Look at my stooooopid fucking ass,I am all painted up and standing on goofy fucking heels,because my record producer told me I had to,in order to make it.Contrast that to the quiet ones,that had half a brain to stay away from the limelight,and not sell out,and record some of the most kick assed music ever.Here are a few even including some one hit wonders from back in day.
1.The Ones
2.The Young Rascals.Shit,just that first album was a kick assed gem!!!
3.Vanilla Fudge.
4.Association.
5.The First Edition...Damn them harmony vocals fed into a Leslie speaker were a nice touch!!
6.Skylark.
7.Soul survivors.
8.All of Motown.
9.The Cowsills.Don't laugh,I beg you.
10.One man electrical band....very kick assed sound to this one hit wonder...

All in all record buying public,don;t just flock to the latest SENSATION THAT HAS LESS TALENT THAN A LAND SNAIL,BUT CREATES SOME BONEHEAD,CORPO MEDIA AIDING,BULLSHIT ANTICS IN ORDER TO SELL CRAP TO A PUBLIC THAT WILL EVEN BUY INTO THE SHIT THAT TRUMP IS FLINGING.JUST SAYING...

This whole pop culture "Voice" crap that aging Boomers created for the doof tee vee" reality"crowd. Do you smell a rat yet??? I did back in the nineteen eighties early on when this weird assed Madonna captured the hearts of the pop culture.Oh well,then we had that Saint Ronnie Doofus that managed to out shine due to some universe brain fart,a true christian like Jimmy Carter....WTF?????

Kevin, what on earth were you going on about here?

This song should be the national anthem of America!!! I am a 62 year old Boomer musician,that started out on the "geetar" in like 1965 trying to learn the chords of pop crap like "windy".Gee,did the corpo recording industry back in the day HAVE A CLUE??? I don't think so as far as song placement to the top forty.Terry Kirkman,and that band back then I ignored.Much to my 2015 chagrin.Listen to the absolute "no pitch tune involved" amazing as shit harmonies!!! Jeeebus!!! Try that sometime w/ your little home recording crap,Tascam,et al digital junk.Never forget the names Skully,Ampex,Boomers.That analog old school shit gave you your "heritage"...

+kevin knapp I couldn't agree more

yall do know this is about th war in the nam

This is so good. I was just driving to school & flipping through stations today & heard this song & the part where he is like,"Mama Mama, Forget for your Pies." & I was like,"Oh shit! Im feeling this!"

A more modern song on a similar theme is "Charlie Boy" by The Lumineers. It gets to me much as this one does.

This was the b side to never my love.. i was 12 and when i flipped it over and played this song, i could not stop listening to it...it made me feel sadness like never before, and it was so intense......just and epic song and vibe

Wow, what a great memory.

I was 15, and I was in the midst of terrible realization that the Vietnam war was a terrible mistake, but never, ever disrespected the boys and men that were sent, died or came home to thoughtless, ungracious and rude behavior. I cried the first time I heard this beautiful, mournful piece. The Association caught every emotion in its net of melody, and I was snared, as well. Veterans of war are patriots, no matter the cause. Blame the leaders that are the mongers of conflict.

Had that orange Warner Brother's single.  This is one of the heaviest songs ever recorded and really captures the tragedy of what Nam was already by '67.  I think I threw out my Ballad of the Green Berets after this (Well, I was just a young teeny bopper).   "Master's voice" -be gone!  By 68 and 14 I knew I wasn't going no matter what!

Almost the same story here. I was about 12 when I turned that record over. It was like the song reached out and grabbed my heart. Finding it just now, I had the same reaction. What an empty world it would be if we didn't have music. I got to see them live when I was in college. Yes, they performed this song and it was magic.

Red, white, and blue shown differently in this song. Brilliant writing from Terry!

You are so full of shit. I lived though the Vietnam Era from start to finish and I never heard nor read about anyone spitting on an vets, Nor did I even hear people tell soldiers coming home "baby-killers" This is bullshit contrived by the Neo Cons for the purpose of inciting resentment against Anti War movement. After all there is no record or even allowing demonstrations INSIDE airports. What hippie or demonstrators would have the nerve to confront face to face a harden war vet eye to eye bullshit. We did condemn the genocide against he Vietnam people, who suffered the most. They lost 3 million people while the U.S. only suffered 55,000 dead. We threw everything we had against a people who had no Navy, Air force or tactical weapons such as napalm  or bunker busters, Yet they won and good for them. If itsnotthesame thing has penis envy that he was not in the war and probably would have shitted  on the battlefield  if he did get drafted too bad he can't handle the truth!.

+Gene Hernandez Know what, bub, i went. And when i came back you would have thought that I had horns on my head and a tail. Had a dozen cans of paint poured on my car once. Had people throw stuff at me. Yeah, and had people walk up toe to toe with me and scream in my face. Want to know what REAL power is? Knowing how to off somebody and not even lifting your finger against them when they do crap like that! I didn't even want to go. They draft the poor white trash around here first though, as the song says. So I got my ass drafted. Too young to even buy booze. I was a pot- smoking long-haired leaping gnome, you ass hair. Didn't believe in that war and still don't. Lots of things in my head you'll never nightmare through. And I was called a lot of things worse than "Nazi" or "baby-killer" or - you know what, KISS MY PY*FO*YVUB!

+quantumthunder  From a great album by the gods of harmony. And I absolutely love this song. Then and there, here and now, and God be with us all.

+quantumthunder
Amen brother!! I don't know where that little shit Timelord Bill got his information from, probably from TV as he quoted MASH, but the ass hole has no idea what it's like to live in the real world.

+Gene Hernandez Hey, DIPSHIT !!!!! You are the one full of shit. I was one of those soldiers who had drinks thrown on them, spit upon, and called so many horrible names. There is nothing contrived as to what I had to endure walking through the airport in my Class A blues. I held my head high because of the honorable service I provided to my country. By the way, the only thing I didn't hear was being called a baby killer. So, to your face, "FUCK YOU ASSHOLE !!!"

Go to hell Gene

"Everything That Touches You" and "Birthday" came out before I met my wife. We have now been married over 40 years and every time I think of songs to describe what she means to me, I start here. 

My brother was a Vietnam vet, and I have full and total resentment toward anyone who spit on the vets when they came home. My brother died, in 1980, trying to save another man's life, here in the states. He was a medic in Vietnam, and tried to save lives then. He suffered a lot of PSTD from what he dealt with during the war. I don't care if you didn't support the war. But if you are the type to spit on the soldiers from any war, allow me to give you my two handed, birdie finger salute. I recall this song from when I was a kid, and didn't really understand what it was about, much like I didn't understand why my brother was gone for four years. The song is beautiful, but it brings back memories of what Vietnam vets had to go through, upon returning to their so called country. 

Urban Myth my Ass!
I watched soldiers getting off of a Flying Tigers chartered DC8 at SeaTac airport get spat upon and called all sorts of names as they walked through the B Concourse by a boatload of Flower Power types wearing shirts with Peace and Love written on them. I remember thinking even then "What Hypocrites"
What I WITNESSED was NO Urban Myth, it was the kind of Hate being spewed by AntiFA (as in Anti First Amendment) today.

G-d Bless your brother and Welcome Home to him and all his brothers and sisters.

Growing up as a military brat in the 1950's and 1960's living on base was a refuge. When I finally finally finished at a stateside "civilian" high school in the mid-sixties, it was teenage hell. I was tormented by my peers as an odd-ball, my father was made fun of, it was awful! When I began junior college, an old friend of ours from high school in Japan (Tachikawa AB) came to live with my family. He had gotten out of the army and Vietnam the previous year. We rode together each day until he could find an apartment. One day, he was so pissed, he could hardly speak while we drove home that afternoon. He finally broke the silence and told me that he was having a friendly chat with this girl in his class. The conversation turned rather badly when she asked him, what did he do before he started college. When he told her that he was just trying to get back to a normal existence after Vietnam, she told him " it's too bad that you came back alive." I will never forget that day! This happened while you were in Cam Rahn Bay, in '69, to give you a time perspective.
Those who did and said things to our vets, including those who were so indifferent to them, can never atone for their misdeeds, no matter how remorseful some of them may feel now now.
I just do not know, nor can I even begin to fathom what it must have been like for you while there, so far from home.
I'm glad you responded to this guy and his "urban legend" BS.
My respects to you, for you not only treated those under the worst of conditions and stress, but you also had to take care of us "brats". Bless you!

I wish I would have saved the link to the guy that investigated "spitting" incidents. It was widely publicised but have never seen pictures or other hard proof and neither did the investigator. Please if you see anything concrete reply to me.

“He never asked, he was taught
Not to ask what was on his lips
As they buried him.”
Eternal peace to your brother.

They did this live in Santa Barbara in 1967 - at the end, after the last note of Terry's flugel horn, there was a noteable 60+ second silence before the audience actually "came to" and roared into applause....  it was AWESOME!!!!

I heard they were the first band on stage at Monterrey Festival.

thank you for sharing

this song blows my mind!!!!

Great song! Can I request 'Wasn't it a bit like now' from this album. I can't find it on youtube. Thanks!

I am a child of the sixties. My Dad was a WW2 veteran and was against the Vietnam war. Shamefully, I had no opinion until I saw the Association perform this song on the Ed Sullivan show. Overnight, the power of this song opened my eyes. All politicians, especially Conservatives should go to war in the front of our young boys. Let them die first.

@Mark Worth That exactly was my point. At the time conservatism was found in both parties, in fact the southern Democrats formed the nucleus of the current Republican party after Johnson pushed his Great Society package of legislation. Their revulsion at aiding black people caused the change to the Republicans and the shift to the far right.

Rick, I agree.

I was 10 years old in 1961 close to turning 11 when my Uncle was sent over to Nam under the Kennedy Administration, (inherited from the Truman era then back to French Colonialism), he was a mobile teletype operator at the time, I remember a letter he sent me, done on the teletype, any way to point it's not a demo/repub thing at all it is simply as Eisenhower said the Industrial Military Complex and I would hope we all know that by now, it's always been about the Benjamins.tHERE HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN MORE THAN 10% DIFFERENCE IN THE pARTIES in practice, they are supposed to Guarantee a Republican form of Government as stated in our Constitution, the Law of the land, theoretically anyway.The song fit then and fits now. I got to see the Association in Concert at the Honolulu Civic Auditorium and meet some of the band backstage before it began,

Much respect and thanks to your father for his service.

@Rick Kernell - Johnson was not only a liberal, but a GOD-DAMNED RACIST FUCKING DEMOCRAT LIBERAL. PERIOD... Fucking RAT.

So Good...

JFK was "An inside job"!  Why?  Because he did not want Vietnam.

Great harmony sounds like a choir almost.

Almost?

sadly underrated band/group.  amazing harmonies, great songs, great singers, great lyrics.  I still think had Brian lived they would have gotten bigger.

What happened to Brian?

@MJ Smith Not real sure, but I know they got hammered by critics for "Windy." I've certainly heard worse over all the years I've been listening to pop and rock and roll.

justlikeu2 - the answer is neither. The correct lyric is " and all fell before the bull." I would like to think your screen name of justlikeu2 was inspired by the great Paul Revere and the Raiders song "just like me" but alas it probably wasn't! By the way, I have 12 or 13 songs posted> Go to you tube and type in lennypag and see what'ch you think. Unfortunately, the man who mixed it for me did an atrocious job.The vocals are far too strong - so just turn down the volume down Please make comments, if you wish.

Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy) 

One of the best songs ever by anyone!! I witnessed them perform this live in 1967  - The lights were turned off  - the auditorium alight only by candles - as the players dressed in religious garb swung incense pots while they masterfully performed this song!! Truly a moment in time I'll never forget. Without question, one of the top five bands of all-time and easily the best band to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival !!!!

I agree, MrGold!   One question, if you know the answer?   In the late 60's when we sang this song, we understood the lyrics to be "an offering for the bull" rather than those you see when looking up lyrics in different places "and all will be for the bull".  Do you know which one is right?

@justlikeu2 It is " and all fell before the Bull". An allusion to the social structure of the time...

@Rick Kernell
At half mast for the matadors who turned their backs to please the crowd, and all fell before the bull --
some traditions of bullfighting require that, before the killing sword-thrust, the matador turns his back to the bull's horns to bow -- and since the bull is supposed to have some fight left in him before the coup de grace, this is often a suicidal gesture -- but the crowd demands it or they are disappointed.  Please the crowd, obey the sacrificial insanity if it costs your life.

@manthasagittarius1 Thanks, I didn't know that...

You witnessed a special event! Always remember...

I think of JFK.   Then I think of the strong images of the traits that can also apply to MLK and RFK.  This song soothes somehow.  All great men.  Senseless endings.

Oh, Sonia, thank you for your insights. I tear up reading them and at the thought of our Jack, Martin and Bobby -- and all of our sons, brothers and friends we lost in the Vietnam War. Will we ever learn.

We lost Dr King and Bobby Kennedy within two months of each other -- that was 1968, the year I graduated from high school and headed off for college. What a turbulent time. I think a certain amount of innocence was still running high among the younger kids, but it was dissolving into bewilderment pretty fast.

Well - but they were always about tight complex harmonies. I think maybe sometimes it was so organic and so effortless that you hardly noticed it -- or hardly picked it out of the total weave of lyrics and rhythm and instrumental sound and everything else to notice it. Like the air you breathe, you don;t notice it after a while, even in a rose garden. It's just there.

You know, with the references to "mama, mama" and matadors, it has always evoked the Spanish Civil War for me. Bombs were dropped on rebels and civilians, hence "bloodshot skies"; Picasso, Guernica. . . ???

Usually don't think about tight harmony when thinking about The Association, but this amazing.

Collegiate head music. The best.

Come on people. I'm a Vietnam vet. I get it. Everyone had something to say then and now through music and otherwise. But Please don't overlook the musical value of this piece as well as the group. Beautifully written and performed! Harmonies were their trademark, never showcased better than in this piece. My younger friends hear this and say "THIS IS A ROCK GROUP?" My kids, however, have been exposed to music of my era and love and appreciate the quality and talent of these musicians. Thank God!

While in his quest to withdraw American Soldiers from Vietnam, President Nixon made Special Visits to both The Soviet Union and China in hopes of mending a few fences with Those Two Bigger Nations the United States were up against in Vietnam. His visits were a success as President Nixon made peace with Both Nations separately. It took some doing but during Nixon's Impeachment in 1974, The War in Vietnam for the United States was long done as they completely left on August 15, 1973.

From 1963 to 1968, President Johnson carelessly kept sending American Soldiers to the Meat Grinder(So they say) when he was sending them to Vietnam and their deathbeds, and a Good Amount of Americans were fed up! In 1968, Richard Nixon was elected President and the first thing he did was to try to put a stop on The War in Vietnam as President Nixon("Dick" to His Friends) slowly pulled American Troops out of Vietnam as he pretty much waved the White Flag, as this should have been done years ago!

Rrrrrrriiiiight. And I suppose it was Johnson that ordered the bombing of Cambodia which expanded the war and led to demonstrations such as the Kent State Massacre. That great peace-lover Nixon.

After President Kennedy was assassinated by a Fall Guy named Lee Harvey Oswald(Allegedly), Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson immediately stepped in and accelerated the Manpower needed for the Vietnam War as we were up against not only The Nation of Vietnam, but also Two Other Communist Nations who were both bigger and stronger than the United States in Manpower which led to an enormous amount of American Deaths, Prisoners of War or Missing In Action. This was why Americans were against Vietnam!

Vietnam was a losing cause for the United States. This was the reason why President Kennedy was assassinated because he knew that we should not have gotten involved. Incidentally, we were at war with Cuba(And Fidel Castro) during Kennedy's Administration. Even though the CIA wanted to fight in Vietnam, disobeying Kennedy's wishes, they had President Kennedy murdered while he was in Dallas. Prior to going to Dallas, President Kennedy's Secretary warned him not to go, but ignored the warning.

Vietnam. About the boxer, I have never heard anything, but art doesn't always refer to just one thing.

I've always had tears in my eyes at the figure of the matadors who turned their backs to please the crowd . . . our guys, our poor guys, the ones who didn't come back and the ones who did.

Does anyone know what this song is about? I have heard it is about Vietnam War and, oddly enough, the boxer Davey Moore. No definite answer though.

Not many realized the social stance these musicians were bravely taking back then. Loved them then and still do.

The Association was an underrated group. Many of the groups songs featured meaningful lyrics and terrific harmonies. The song Enter the Young is another great piece of music. Thanks for having the guts to post this - it's been uploaded and removed many times in recent years.

Outstanding harmonies. This gem was always overlooked.

Love the Association I don't recall ever hearing this song it's awesome!

Always loved this song. Thanks for posting.

What a powerful song. Back when music was really music.

It's not unlikely, but I remember this song was out in the summer of '67, before Nixon was elected, and it got very little play. The local stations were doing plenty of that song banning while Johnson was still in office.

Wasn't this song banned from the radio by the Nixon administration because it was thought to be critical of the Vietnam war?

Even a pop band from the 60's with songs like this are heavier than what's played on today's radio. Pair this with the Strawberry Alarm Clock's "Me and the Township," the Bee Gee's "Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Tell You," and Climax's "Park Preserve," to sample what "pop" groups were really capable of in the studio. It's amazing. Terry Kirkman outdid himself on this.

This continues to give me chills everytime I hear it as does Richie Havens Handsome Johnny.While working as a goffer for Murray Kauffman at the old OR FM in New york I wasturned on to this song.Over the years I have built sets around this,Richie Havens,Edwin Starrs War and have mixed voices of war veterans ino these along with Tom Clays The Victors and Marvin Gaye,s Whats going on.Sadly free form Progressive Rock has followed it,s older bother Top 40 into Oblivion on the radio.

Brings back many memories of the sit-ins and moratoriums during university days when North America was oposed ot a war in Asia. We really learned a lot since then. Ha!. However, the Association really captured the moods of our generation from the happiness of CHERISH, to the caution of NEVER MY LOVE, to the drug culture with ALONG COMES MARY, and in terms of the Vietnam War, this song REQUIM FOR THE MASSES.

Thanks 4 posting wore this track and Reputation out on album

Whenever people talk about bands that are/were known for their amazing vocal harmonies, people always mention The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Hollies, and of course-Queen, but no one ever mentions The Association! Without a doubt, arguably, one of the most brilliant, underrated bands of the 60's and early/mid 70's, and this song in particular is a classic example of that! Incredible!

Thank you for posting this. It's always been one of my favorite songs, and today (9-11-2012) it's really been running in my thoughts.

I have yet been able to gird myself to go the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Trust me, this will be on my I-Pod as I visit my brothers. Vigilus Salutis.