Soldier

When they first came to your school cafeteria

Setting up tables and folding chairs

While all around you the children sat squawking

You were impatient to see what they had to share

You were impressed by their pamphlets tri-folded

With bullet point lists of the ways you could go

Offering you chances to be part of legends

You never thought you would be able to

Soldier, Soldier

Your grandpa died from a German man’s courage

to do what he thought was right

Downward he fell towards the mud like an extra

In the background of a movie set

You packed your bags gave a kiss to your mother

And walked out the door with the world on your shoulders

You traded your hands for grenades and machine guns

And boy you sang your battle cry so low

Momma, momma can’t you see

What the army’s done to me

I used to date a beauty queen

Now I hug my M-16

Momma, momma, can't you see

they made a soldier out of me

Soldier, Soldier

I know there are forms waiting at the post office

Neatly arranged in a bin labeled draft forms

And as I walk by them they scream and they’re snarling

Threatening to take the man I love away