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