12 June 2012
“Welcome home, soldier,” called a voice in the dark,
30 years late to a 50 year old man.
Once he was golden with the promise of youth,
til his country sent him off to foreign land.
His father had gone, you know, and never complained,
though he saw friends ripped to shreds onthe beaches of France .
Too proud to let fear make him question the need,
he followed his duty to Viet Nam .
Don’t let us down, son, don’t let us down.
You know every generation finds its own battleground.
Don’t let me down, son, don’t let me down.
Make it back alive and we’ll go out on the town.
2 years of life disappeared into hell
where the towering jungle breathes death and decay.
Kids beg for candy, kids throw grenades,
the hookers have diseases and the drugs are escape.
These are both left feet – must be a 2 body count.
Your own side sprays poison over your head.
You look out for your buddy, he looks out for you,
til a shot in the back, and your buddy is dead.
Don’t let me down, man, don’t let me down.
You’re the only thing between me and a hole in the ground.
Don’t let me down, man, don’t let me down.
My lungs are filling with blood, I think I might drown.
He stepped off the plane with a sigh of relief,
thanking a god he could no longer believe.
The Summer of Love spat hate in his face,
a hippie chick’s venom dripping down from his cheek.
“Baby killer! Murderer!” rang in his ear.
Shock and resentment turned to lead in his bones.
He sees vets in the street, and it ain’t no parade.
Nobody cared if they ever got home.
You let us down brother, let us all down.
You never should have let the man push you around.
You let us down brother, let everyone down.
You didn’t have to go, should have just skipped town.
A good woman left him, couldn’t take anymore
of the drinking and drugs and the nightmares of war.
No job wanted him. His bitterness raged,
pushing away everything he reached for.
3 decades lost; he admits to himself
he’s got to get help to ever be cured.
A roomful of strangers, he’s spilling his guts
before that 20 year old kid finally heard,
Welcome home, soldier, welcome back home.
We never should have left you standing out in the cold.
Welcome home, soldier, welcome back home.
30 years gone before your story was told.
And the room just exploded in tears.
Welcome home soldier, welcome back home.
We never repaid the life that you loaned.
Welcome home soldier, welcome back home.
Our guilt and our shame made us turn on our own.
Welcome home, soldier, welcome back home.
We never should have left you standing out in the cold.
Welcome home, soldier, welcome back home.
30 years gone before your story was told.
Welcome Home • Opuss № I