Steve Earle -- Mercenary Song 

Reminds me of a Marine that passed away recently that I read about. I didnt know him, but he was a Former US Marine with combat tours, joined the French Foreign Legion, and then fought with the rebels against Isis. Never seemed to fit in, but only fit into chaos. Several degrees in badassery for sure. Rah.

"They kept wanting their sons back from overseas, so they went and called us to relieve them. Nobody wants us back, so we're here to stay. So long as the pay's good."

I remember in the late 70s-early 80s there was tons of "This gun for hire" ads in S.O.F. As a young kid I had a few as pen pals and with the advent of the internet found out these guys weren't bullshitting, they were no joke. Old men by now but I bet they saw some true insanity during their heyday.

My life for 39 years. Mike from Sumter, South Carolina. Still here. Can't say it all payed, but I think I got what I deserved. I am ok with the score... I would do it all again...

My grandfather met Pancho Villa when he was about ten years old, Mr. Villa looked him right in the eye and said, " boy, bring some water for my horse", my grandfather did, and off rode Mr. Villa and his no longer thirsty horse! Lol

"I guess a man's got to do what he's best at Ain't found nothin' better so far" That's my story in the Army. Infantry 77-97

Well done. As Heath Ledger's Joker said, "If you're good at something, you don't do it for free."

Roland the Headless Thompson gunner still keeps up the fight!

Steve is one of the most prolific singers/ songwriters of our generation. One of the dying few who can actually tell a story in song that you can understand and identify in some way with,even if you’re not a badass country boy.

Knew a SOF in my youth. Congo, Nigeria, Isreal, Southeast Asia,... Just talked to him about 2 weeks ago after 30 years. I'm 66 and he's deep into his 80's now. Raised a family with grandkids now, outlived his wife, and lives in the deep North backwoods of Minnesota. Told me " One spring they'll dig me out and find me long dead I hope. After the life I've lived it sounds like a good way to go." Carry on Sir, with much respect.

First pic is of Robert K Brown. Ex 5th Gp SF Viet-Nam and founder of Soldier Of Fortune magazine. Good reading back in the 80s.

Great song. It's all about a buck. Trained ex military being paid to do whatever. Can't support family on the corporate minimum wage. I believe you hit the nail on the head. You are a great song writer.

my dad was a contractor after being a squaddie for years, he’s told me many stories

A lot of the visuals were of us South Africans in the bush war(conscripts) . I guess many of us are still out there. Proud soldiers all respect.

S.O.F magazine was what inspired me to head to war. Some of those boys were kicking around in Jugoslavia in the nineties. Didn't see anyone getting rich on 30 DM a month, but it was a hell of an experience.

Was a merc myself 10yrs.... the pay was not all that, but action hell yeah....man sure miss some good old boys that bought the farm down in central America, but some day I will see'em in Valhalla.

Thank you to anyone who served during Vietnam.

Met a few of these fellows in my travels(deployments).Fascinating area of endeavour. Love this song.

God bless these brave men.. We are all Rhodesians now.

I was a contractor starting in 95 and stopped in 2008. Steve Earle pegs it and other songs like Johnny Come Lately, I listen to alone and drunk sometimes. There is no explaining it to a civilian. I have a couple excellent girls in my life, both are hookers in Latin America and there is loyalty and caring. Hell, Jesus hung out with Mary Magdalene. Good enuf for him, good enuf for me.

"Bow down before the one you serve, you're going to get what you deserve..." ;) Mercenary rule... thank NIN.

always been a Steve Earl fan but never heard this one till now, great song with meaning thanks for finding and sharing

Contrary to what people might think there is more than money involved. When someone takes part in something like a mercenary venture they may do it because they believe in the cause, you never see an anti-communist mercenary go over to a communist side because they pay better. More important they take up the business because they don't want to do nine-to-five jobs which is horrifying to them. When you consider someone who might be in a dead end job in one country could become a military leader affecting a country elsewhere you'd understand why. Bob Denard was selling vacuums before ending up in the Congo where he ended up commanding an entire column.

In combat, you act without passion and without hate, you respect defeated enemies, and you never abandon your dead, your wounded, or your arms.

Its one thing to sign a contract that makes you a countries disposable asset and get payed in thankyous for your service. Its another thing to sign a contract that pays you well for the danger tou put yourself in, and the skills you have.

Steve Earle never misses a beat.

There's a very private memorial in NC that wraps around a small water with a head stone for all the men of Blackwater KIA. They die together 4 or 5 at a time as ieds do. To you fellas. They were always moving someone of great importance and never lost one

Love the pic of Robert K Brown. He is Soldier of Fortune and a friend.

Be a man among men Rhodesia freedom fighters

song fits the bill. got out of the Army 1977 1/508 PIR 82nd ABN me,and a fellow para sitting at the only bar in Torreon NM was offered 50k to be mercs. somewhere in central, or south America we don't really remember where both declined. glad i did went on to get a geology degree from UNM.

My grandfather fought in ww2 , Korea and Vietnam . When he got out in 67 as a senior NCO they (CIA) offered him work as a courier between places the US military wasn’t and Saigon. He declined and came home to his wife’ and 2 young sons . He passed at age 65 from A long battle with agent Orange . 11th air assault to 1st cavalry airmobile 1/82Arty 1/77Arty he was the artillery observer attached to infantry units out in the shit . Combat infantry badge , bronze star . Just a tough as nails American Who grew up poor as shit trying to make a better life for his family serving his country and his STATE just like his great grandfather who fought With the 14th SC in Maxcy Greggs brigade , AP hills division .

Many people join the military, Few people are warriors, Fewer still are born to it - Hail those of you who are warriors, and for those who joined the military, good start!

Rhodies will never die.

Once you’ve hunted men no other hunt will satisfy you.

Rhodesians never die!

countries usually mock mercenaries since they arent "real soldiers" or at least they are considered lesser by most because they fight for money rather than a flag or cause. but without them many campaigns would have been lost or at least far more difficult and cost more lives. and a lot of these men are ex soldiers with no place to go etc. hell its not even a newish concept. even in medieval times kings and random people hired mercenaries to boost their ranks and take on risky missions.

You aren’t a real Merc till you’ve served against your own country

Black Water Boys you are remembered

Quote from"Fury", Best job I ever had.

Fun Fact- one of the mercs pictured, Bob Mackenzie (sp?) served with US Special Forces before being medically retired and becoming a mercenary. He was eaten by RUF troops in Sierra Leone around 2002.

Some men were chiseled into warriors by God.

A mis 60 años me gusta escuchar estos temas

Used to think I served my country, not so sure about that anymore. Not really sure just who I served, no say in where you go or what you do and who you do it for. At least as a mercenary you get the say in what and where

Mercenary Song - Ukraine war Version Me and Vasili we both come from Kherson met Oleg down in Mariupol. We're bound for Kharkiv to join Azov we hear that they're payin' in gold. I guess man's got to do what he's best at ain't found nothing better so far. Been called merceneries and men with no country just soldiers in search of a war. And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune. We fight for no country but we die for good pay. Under the flag of the turquoise Rouble or the Hryvnia down Ukraine way. When this war is over i might go back to Kherson, and settle down quiet somewhere. I'll most likely pack up and head south for Karabakh, i've heard there's some trouble down there. And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune. We fight for no country but we die for good pay. Under the flag of the turquoise Rouble or the Hryvnia down Ukraine way. And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune. We fight for no country but we die for good pay. Under the flag of the turquoise Rouble or the Hryvnia down Ukraine way.

Don't show Rhodesia pics. We fought for our country

Me and the boys when the French civil war kicks off

drove a tanker out of kuwait to the green zone for kbr ( Halliburton )...it was a job .....not a cause...and the pay was great,,,,,,,.was in khanhhoa province area in a little shit hole called vietnam when I was 20 yrs old driving f/a transportation company for my country that didn't pay shit....gotta tell ya , least we had some heavy duty back up in the nam....that f'n desert run was some scary shit...was not worth the cash ! just one opinion.

For a couple centuries Mercenaries were the #1 export from Ireland. From the"Wild Geese" in 1691 to Mad Mike Hoare in the 1960s.

The lead picture of RKB ..is of him in Afghanistan going out to do what he could do to help then.. the rifle is a .338 Win Mag...if am not mistaken...he was much more than a wannabe.. always helped what he believed in....

Very interesting, looks like a Rem 700 hunting rifle set up as a sniper rifle in front of UH-1.

some called them terrorists, mercenary, war criminals but some also called them hero

Never,never what you call Mercenary fight against his conviction!

Been Their Done That , Dynalectron , 76 - 2010 !

Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries BY A. E. HOUSMAN These, in the days when heaven was falling, The hour when earth's foundations fled, Followed their mercenary calling And took their wages and are dead. Their shoulders held the sky suspended; They stood, and the earth's foundations stay; What God abandoned, these defended, And saved the sum of things for pay.

Although SOF magazine made a big deal, I think you've made a mistake by leading with a picture of Robert K. Brown. He was a publisher, not a merc. Well, he was a merc-wannabe publisher. I remember one issue where he and some other SOF staffers had gone out on a patrol in some place in Africa, and actually managed to get themselves shot at. The headlines were, "SOF Sees The Elephant!"

He was a true pioneer who else would have thought to use jars of piss as a weapon

I sometimes wish I never tried to be a good family man. I should have stayed what I was; alone, wild, and dangerous.

You know, if you have not served for any length of time and have not fought. You will never understand what this song really means. In the end, we will all fight for flag of the greenback dollar.

fight for no country but we'll die for good pay...

Got home in fall of 72 after two tours, knew nothing useful in states so sold my trigger finger and eyes to highest bidder.

If you kill for money you're a mercenary. If you kill for pleasure you're a sadist. If you kill for both you're a Green Beret. (Sign at a Special Forces Camp, Me Phuc Tay, Vietnam.)

Anyone else find this song kinda sad

#MakeZimbabweRhodesiaAgain

Lived the Merc life '82-85 Central America and then Aramco '87-'99. Wish I got paid what they get now. Damn good times though, especially when I R&R at Lucy's Tiger Den.

Some find home in the smoke and fire of war

I’m 13 and I’m seriously thinking of being a PMC or Mercenary. All those videos about Executive Outcomes convinced me.

Since they disperced blackwater there's new group coming up they are called redwater real good guys if anyone is interested they are out of Texas

This song reminds me of the old soliders of fortune Magazines

1:51 the chorus is perfect

Remember, if you plan to stay Those who give can take away Don't bite the hand that feeds you

Sure glad I was a foreign volunteer and not a mercenary or I'd be in trouble. 😅

hell of a song

This song was realeased during the'90s. Yet in Chile there was no trouble during those years. (I know that probably they put Chile to make it sound good or to make a point that mercenaries go to fight very far away from home). But ironically, right now we need people like this in the south of Chile.

I'd trade both my legs for a past worth dwelling on or a death worth dying.

This hits right.

The song lyrics reference the early 20th century but a lot of the photos are Africa in the 1960's and 70's.

Me, I missed Viet Nam, thank Ford, but a mate of mine went and then went on to Angola. I remember him having a conversation with the Portuguese guy who cleaned our school. "Hey, I was in Angola." "Really, so was I." " What were you doing there?" Oops!!

Long live free Rhodesia

Volens et Potens Hoooaaahh Rock of the Marne 🇺🇸 you never get rid of the taste 😈🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺🇮🇱

under the flag of the green back dollar

I just wish the good oldschool mercenary life was still open for every male looking for adventure, instead of the strictly ex-military and ex-special forces guys that PMCs only employ today...

Not all men deserve to breath air when to many good men have died young. Sometimes you have to take out the trash!

By his own admission, Steve Earle is not the easiest cat to work with, live with, drink with, or even be around, generally, Steve Earle is a brilliant songwriter.Hope he's clean, these days,

Roland the headless Thompson gunner has entered the chat.

From south Texas ❤️👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Looking at a flights to Poland and trains in Ukraine..

personally I think it should be "we'll die for no country, but we'll fight for good pay"

Yeah.

Sometimes,I feel we were all Mercs. In the long run, we all fought for someone's bottom line. It was never about country for them.

thanks - and so true - I am a vet

I love y'all!

I'm 64, I've only me one true, verified, merc in my life. He was an interesting cuss! I asked his Wife once if he was truly a merc, She told me flat out she hated him and wished SA would fire up again so he'd go back. Said he made great $$$$ there. One of the oddest things I've ever seen. Gotta a stone cold guy and a woman who don't want him.......very odd time. After 40 years I still think about that. Frankly, I was glad to get away from them. Both of them were matches and gas.

Some of these pictures are from Rhodesia...The country that the USA and England SOLD OUT...I saw it happen.

Best songwriter of my lifetime. Too bad his politics are now the politics of the billionaires and, last I heard, he's stuck to them instead of resisting the urge to think we blue collar men are winning. We aren't. If the guys who own everything are pushing something, it's always bad for us Copperhead Road types

The Wild Geese....."any cause but our own".

really god guitar audio on this song. Alot of songs have horrible instrumental audio.

Most of these pictures is of Saffas

Tacey Peck. The most beautiful woman in Nashville Tennessee.

Good song

I will always regret that I never contracted out of the military, I was asked handsomely but I decided my wife was more important....