The Why And The Wherefore

Where, where‚ where and where
哪里哪里哪里？
And where  are you bound‚ young man?
你的战场在哪里，年轻人？
I'm  off to the war with good men and true
我要和那些善良的小伙子一起去参军了
And hadn't you better come along too?
你最好也一同前来吧
I speak my mind quite freely
这就是我如实表达的想法
Now,  really
现在，来吧

为什么为什么为什么？
Why,  why‚ why and why
为什么要参军，年轻人？
And why to the war, young man?
那是因为啊，我们在为了一个神圣的理由战斗
Did  a man ever fight for a holier cause
为了和我们的爱情一样价值的自由和联邦的旗帜战斗
Than freedom and flag and equal love
这就是我如实表达的想法
Just speak your mind quite freely
现在，来吧
Now really
哪个哪个哪个？

哪个旗帜才真正象征着自由？
Which‚  which, which, and which
哦华盛顿的星条旗才是自由的象征啊！
And which is the flag of the free?
除了星条旗外，你还能管什么旗帜下的势力叫“自由的”势力（译注：bars有铸块，铁棒的意思，这里我想应该是代指旗杆，更深一步，也就是代指星条旗）
Oh, Washington's flag with the stripes and the stars
这就是我如实表达的想法
Will you give such name to the thing with the bars?
现在，来吧
I speak my mind quite freely
谁谁谁？
Now, really
我们应当和谁一起参加战斗？

成千上万的勇敢的年轻人们都在这里了！
Who, who, who, and who
女孩们会哭泣，但是他们还是自愿来了！
And who goes with you to the war?
这就是我如实表达的想法
Ten thousand brave lads and if they should stay here
现在，来吧
The girls would cry shame and the they'd volunteer
什么时候什么时候什么时候呢？
They speak their minds quite freely
什么时候战争才会结束？
Now, really
当那叛军被荡平，当全美利坚团结在联邦的星条旗下的时候！

当自由真正在我们国家被付诸实践，这样，我的朋友们，战争就结束了！
When, when, when, and when
这就是我如实表达的想法
And when do you mean to come back?
现在，来吧，让我们赢得战争！
When rebellion is crushed and the Union restored
And freedom is safe, then, please the Lord
I speak my mind quite freely
Now, really