ðˌoʊ nˌɑːt ɹˈɪʔn̩ ɐbˌaʊt ðə vˌiːətnˈɑːm wˈɔːɹ, ðə pˈiːɾɚ, pˈɔːl ænd mˈɛɹi kˈʌvɚɹ ʌvðə sˈɔŋ wʌz ɪntˈɜːpɹɪɾᵻd baɪ æt lˈiːst wˈʌn ɹˈaɪɾɚ təbi ɐ pɹˈoʊtɛst sˈɔŋ ɐbˌaʊt ɐ sˈoʊldʒɚ lˈiːvɪŋ hɪz pˈɑːɹtnɚ, ʌnʃˈʊɹ ɪf hiː wʊd ɹᵻtˈɜːn.
Though not written about the Vietnam War, the Peter, Paul and Mary cover of the song was interpreted by at least one writer to be a protest song about a soldier leaving his partner, unsure if he would return.