I Had To Shoot That Rabbit Tom Paxton

I had to shoot that rabbit
He didn't see me standing there
He wasn’t even runnin'
Dogs were hollerin' everywhere
He was afraid to run
Somehow I was a-raisin’ my gun
Raisin' it higher
Ready to fire

I had to shoot that rabbit
He was just too scared to move
All his runnin' was over
What did he care what I had to prove
It was supposed to be fun
Somehow I was a-raisin' my gun
It was all loaded
Something exploded

I had to shoot that rabbit
It was nothin' but habit
I had to shoot that rabbit
It was nothin' but...

I had to shoot that rabbit
The sergeant told me now Jimmy now do it right
I don't remember it clearly
He looked much too young to fight
He couldn't run no more
Somebody told me that war is war
Then why am I cryin’
And who is dyin’