The Universal Soldier

· by Buffy Sainte-Marie

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Lyrics

He’s (F#)five foot two a Hin and he’s (G#m)six feet four, a Jain, he (F#)fights with and a mis siles and with (B)spears.

And He’s (E)all of thir ty (F#)one and he’s (B)on ly sev en (G#m)teen, he’s been a (E)sol dier for a thou sand (C#m7)years.

He’s a (F#)Cath o lic, a Hin du an (G#m)a the ist, a Jain, a (F#)Bud dhist and a Bap tist and a (B)Jew.

And he (E)knows he should n’t (F#)kill and he (B)knows he al ways (G#m)will, kill you for (E)me my friend and me or (C#m7)you.

And he’s (F#)fight ing for for Can a da, he’s (G#m)fight ing for for France, he’s (E)fight ing for the (F#)U.

S.

(B)A.

And he’s (E)fight ing for the (F#)Rus sians and he’s (B)fight ing for Ja (G#m)pan, and he (E)thinks we’ll put an end to war this (C#m7)way.

And he’s (F#)fight ing for de moc ra cy, he’s (G#m)fight ing for the Reds, he (E)says it’s for the (F#)peace of (B)all.

He’s the (E)one who must de (F#)cide sians who’s to (B)live and who’s to (G#m)die, and he (E)nev er sees the writ ing on the (C#m7)wall.

But with (E)out him, how would (F#)Hit ler have con (B)demned him at Lie (G#m)bau?

With (E)out him, Cae sar (F#)would have stood a (B)lone.

He’s the (E)one who gives his (F#)bod y as a (B)weap on of the (G#m)war, and with (E)out him all this kill ing can’t go (C#m7)on.

He’s the (E)u ni ver sal (F#)sol dier and he (B)real ly is to (G#m)blame, his (E)or ders come from (F#)far a way no (B)more.

They come from (E)him and you and (F#)me, and, (B)broth ers, can’t you (G#m)see?

This is (E)not the way we put the end to (C#m)war.

The Universal Soldier by Buffy Sainte-Marie — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Universal Soldier” by Buffy Sainte-Marie in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of B at 105 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Universal Soldier" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "The Universal Soldier"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "The Universal Soldier" use?: Just 6 chords: B, C#m, C#m7, E, F#, G#m. Take it one section at a time.
What other Buffy Sainte-Marie songs work for kids?: Try "UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO", "Until It's Time For You To Go". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.