[Verse 1]

Naked as sin

An army towel covering my belly

Some of us blush

Somehow, knees turning to jelly

Next, next

I was still just a kid

There were a hundred like me

I followed a naked body

A naked body followed me

Next, next

I was still just a kid

When my innocence was lost

In a mobile army whorehouse

Gift of the army, free of cost

Next, you're next

[Verse 2]

Me

I really would have liked

A little touch of tenderness

Maybe a word, just a smile

Some instant happiness

But, no, no

Next, next

Oh, it—it wasn't so tragic

The high heavens didn't fall, but

How much at that time I hated being there at all

Next, next

Now I always will recall

The brothel truck, the flying flags

The queer lieutenant who slapped our asses as if we were fags

Next, you're next

[Chorus]

I swear on the wet head

Of my first case of gonorrhea

It's his ugly voice

That I forever hear

Next, next

That voice that stinks of corpses

Of whiskey and of mud

It is the voice of nations

That thick voice of blood

Next, next

[Bridge]

And, since then

Each woman I've taken to bed

Seems to laugh in my arms

And whisper through my head

Next, next

[Chorus]

All the naked and the dead

Should hold each other's hands

As they watch me scream at night

In a dream no one can understand

Next, next

And when I'm not screaming

In a voice grown dry and hollow

I stand on endless naked lines

Of the following and the followed

Next, next

[Outro]

One day I'll cut my legs off and burn myself alive

Anything, I'll do anything to get out of line

Just to survive

Ah, never to be next

Oh, never to be next, next