A Soldier's Tale

35 Odd years gone by and I can never be the same

What's worse to fail on duty or stain your fathers name?

God knows that I'm not guilty but I suffer just the same

Lost soul - lost innocence - for politics, it's a shame

Never saw that "yellow devil", 'twas just a ghost inside my head

But sometimes those demons hit you from the back of your own head

We would strike among the common people - bring damage into their lives

Now I live with my regrets and a sadness in my eyes

These days are gone but I don't know

Seems a part of me just won't let go

Can't think of a worse way to waste my days and all that we lost along the way

It's a deadend lost crusade - for democracy they say

We have God on our side - we have victory in our song

But when the bombers fly - there's something that feels wrong

There is possible just one bullet left - so be careful where you aim

Wherever you may go to next - it will never be the same

Now you're caught in the line of fire and the radio let you down

You're left with no connection - with your feet on shaky ground

And the dreams keep coming back

Now the fashion houses are moving in under the peaceful saigon sky

Far from the battlefields and the napalm victims cries

But the images keep haunting me - and I know I can't go free

From all the madness that I've been part of - and the monster that wasn't me

And the dreams keep coming back

Those days are gone - but I don't know - seems a part of me just won't let go

We have God on our side - we have victory in our song

But when the choppers comes hovering in -

There's something so profoundly wrong

Who are we to say what's right - judge what others do wrong

The code for "universal freedom" - just don't hold up no longer

God knows that I'm not guilty - God knows that I'm clean

For goodness sake I was just another victim

In the turmoil of the imperial schemes

I was caught in the line of fire and I had to start fire back

And it filled my heart with a bottomless sorrow -

In a hot as hell jungle shack

Too late to beg forgiveness - too late rectify

These were the days of sorrow -

That I'll carry with me 'til the day I die

The lives that I've taken I can't give 'em back -

There's no "reverse or "rewind"

The ghostly image of a burning village

Will forever be on my mind

Forever be on my mind

Those were the days of sorrow

Those were the days of sorrow