A Soldiers 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