Cold Missouri Waters

My name is Dodge but then you know that

It's written on the chart there at the foot end of the of the bed

They think I'm blind that I can't read it

But I've read it every word and every word it says is death

So confession Is that the reason that you came

Get it off my chest before I check out of the game

Since you mention it well there's thirteen things I'll name

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters

August 49 West Montana

The hottest day on record the forest tinder dry

Lightning strikes in the mountains

I was crew chief at the jump base

I prepared the boys to fly

Pick the drop zone C47 comes in low

Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you go

See the circle of the fire down below

Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters

Gauged the fire I'd seen bigger

So I ordered them to side hill we'd fight it from below

We'd have our backs to the river

We'd have it licked by morning even if we took it slow

But the fire crowned jumped the valley just ahead

There was no way down we headed for the ridge instead

Too big to fight it we'd have to fight that slope instead

Flames one step behind above the cold Missouri waters

Sky had turned red smoke was boiling

Two hundred yards to saftey

Death was fifty yards behind

I don't know why I just thought it

I struck a match to waist high grass running out of time

Tried to tell them step into this fire I've set

We can't make it this is the only chance you'll get

But they cursed me

Ran for the rocks above instead

I lay face down and prayed

Then when I rose like the phoenix

In that world reduced to ashes

There was none but two survived

I stayed that night and one day after

Carried bodies to the river

Wondering how I stayed alive

Thirteen stations of the cross to mark their fall

Now I've had my say I'll confess to nothing more

Now I'll join them now those that they left me long before

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters