A Soldier's Memoir

Been home about six months now

But I still have my doubts

Well I'm not sure how I got here

Or how I'm gonna get out

My mama says I look the same

As I did before I left

But if she could see inside of me

It would scare her to death

I can still taste the powder

From the barrel of my gun

I can hear my sergeant screaming

I can feel the backpack on my shoulders

God it weighed a ton

And I see death in every single thought

They taught me how to put that uniform on

I just can't get it off

Last Saturday they honored us

In a small parade downtown

And when they shot off those fireworks

I nearly hit the ground

And while they smiled and cheered for us

All I could do was stare

Cause part of me is here at home

And part of me is back there

I can still taste the powder

From the barrel of my gun

I can hear my sergeant screaming

I can feel the backpack on my shoulders

God it weighed a ton

And I see death in every single thought

They taught me how to put that uniform on

I just can't get it off

Yeah there's no end in sight

Cause even though I'm home now

I'm still fighting for my life

I can still taste the powder

From the barrel of my gun

I can hear my sergeant screaming

"Run, soldier, run"

I can feel the backpack on my shoulders

God it weighed a ton

And I see death in every single thought

They taught me how to put that uniform on

I just can't get it off

Well the devil's won some battles

And he may win some more

But don't he know the American soldier

Will always win the war