Stand To Attention

Sick from the smell of the fire

I disintegrated into an urn full of life

Full of passion of the wrong kind

And my only option was fight

"Go, you will march" I was told

I was laden with a gun

And I knew of a plan

And I knew my point of contact

And empty handed I can't come back

And though I knew my mind was consumed

I had no where I could run to

So I'd hide behind enemy lines

And though I was free to leave whenever

But I knew that if I endeavored

Through the fences I'd be caught defenseless

They are only human

Like you and I

So who are they to tell us who to be?

And why do we follow them

And cry when we stand to attention?

I should have screamed

Should have clawed

Had I not been in the midst

Of a fight, of a war?

Had I not been in the searchlight?

Had the smog not blurred my eyesight?

And I had a bullet and had a gun

But victimized, my courage gone

And had I made it out the other side

I wouldn't have a place to hide

They are only human

Like you and I

So who are they to tell us who to be?

And why do we follow them

And cry when we stand to attention?

And I shot and I hit

And things I can't live with

Are pushing me harder to grow

But had I not been through this

I wouldn't be witness to a strength

Many can't claim to know

They are only human

Like you and I

So who are they to tell us who to be?

And why, why, why do we follow them

And cry when we stand to attention?