American Soldier

It's time to sack up and let go of your mothers.

Take your gun, it's the cross that's carried by your brothers.

A sliver is all there is, a sliver of the old you.

Underneath the skin, buried deep,

there's a man. There's a soldier in you.

What you doing here?

Welcome to the show!

There's only one man you can trust,

he's the one at your side.

This shit's for real, there's nowhere to hide.

They say that conflict makes the man.

He survives with what he can.

The brave of heart won't look away

but live to fight another day.

What you doing here?

Welcome to the show!

I'm unafraid,

I fear nothing.

I'm unafraid,

I hope for nothing.

I'm unafraid,

I fear nothing.

I'm free! I'm free!

I'm unafraid,

I hope for nothing.

I'm free- you can believe in me.

What ever happened to conviction and faith?

People trip from side to side; don't know

which way or what side to take.

Always known the truth.

It's really black and white.

I've got no fear of judgment when it's time to fight.

We shout so loud so

that everyone can hear it.

Coming on hard like a head-on collision.

Machine like something

won't stop won't care.

Keep it all down with a

Hundred Mile Stare.

Lieutenant says, "Keep that line of drift

no matter what the course!"

"Drive 'em down the middle all the way!"

The heat and the smoke are nothing.

The flames from the fires

reflect the pride behind our mirrored eyes.

It's no surprise. We don't compromise.

Stealing through the night, they'll never know.

They'll never see us.

Beating on the ground

as the people shout "Free us!"

Machine like something

can't stop, don't dare.

Keep it all together with a

Hundred Mile Stare.

We're coming for you!

Won't back down!

Can't stop us!

We unleash

this hell but don't worry.

Won't back down, so get ready.

I still believe and I can see it...wave!

Proud she flies.

Call the dogs! Call out the Dogs!

We should so loud so

that everyone can hear it.

Coming on hard like a head-on collision.

Machine like something

won't stop don't care.

Keep it all down.

Hundred Mile Stare.

Stealing through the night, they'll never know,

they'll never see us.

Beating on the ground as the people shout, "Free us!"

Machine like something

Can't stop, don't dare.

Keep it all together with a

Hundred Mile Stare.

Whatever happens now

is beyond my control.

Emotion has abandoned me.

Faded away and left me...cold.

The call's been made.

I'm here, dependent on the atmosphere

contained inside this mask I wear.

My breathing is all I hear.

I've got the target switch in hand.

I just feel numb, scanning the

ground at the hell that I'll make.

I'm above it in the air.

Flying high above the city walls

as the insurgents run.

Can't stand their ground against the hell

that 'll make.

I'm above it in the air.

I see it all so clear...

at 30,000 feet above the enemy.

No one can see me.

Press execute.

I'll send the "Pigs" away.

The tortured painful cries

will never fall upon my ears

and never stain my elder years.

My heartbeat is all I'll feel.

Infrared tracks the land as the weapons lock.

There's no defense against

the Hell that I'll make.

I'm above it in the air. I'm above it.

Moving past the speed of sound,

I won't see them when they hit the ground.

No hiding from the Hell that I make.

I'm above it in the air.

I'm a shadow.

Over the rooftops of the city the word

travels fast from cell phone to cell phone.

"They demand to see their faces!"

"Of the women...hidden behind the veil?"

Flaming oil blackens the sky.

I don't know why...their hate is the

reason for the Hell that I make.

I'm above it in the air. I'm above it.

Gazing down at the burning land,

I'm the creator of this new "Promised Land,"

and I wonder.

What the hell did I make?

I'm above it in the air. I'm above it.

What in the hell did I make?

I trace what's left of my

cold steel...as it twitches.

Apply the tourniquet tight.

Savor the moment, this might be my last sip of life.

I see at least one hundred miles

Of shifting, stirring sand.

A forsaken man in this strangers' land.

They've left me for...dead.

I'm so tired of feeling scared

but I've got to find a way.

I've got this gun in my hand,

blood on my tongue as I write

dead man's words.

The word we hear is

there's one man down and he's alive.

They ask for volunteers.

I raise my hand high.

I'm sure he'd do the same for me.

It's three days through the desert heat

to save one man's life and

I don't even know his name.

And I'm so tired and my thirst is strong.

I might not make it back alive.

But I've got my gun at my side.

There's just one fear I can't hide and it's

a dead man's words in the sand!

Out in the desert, so tired!

And I don't even know his name.

I will keep my head down!

I'm so tired but there's no way out

but...ahead!

I will not die out in the desert!

I will not die!

I will keep my head down!

How many days pass?

Hard to tel in the desert.

The wind says...nothing.

I move, the bullet bites,

infected to the bone.

Will it find its home...before me?

I pray that you find me soon

before I slip away.

I'm so tired but I've got to hang on.

I've just got to make it one more night.

I've got this gun in my hand.

I've got blood on my tongue.

One last time I write

dead man's words...out in the desert.

So tired!

Mother hides her face.

She drops to her knees,

her sacrifice complete.

The last of her line.

What's left of her name?

Nothing will ever be the same.

I'm not sorry for what I had to do.

It must be done.

You know g'd rewards the winner.

Now I'm on my knees again,

give me strength to win.

If I stop to listen,

I hear "Voices" in the wind.

"Shoot him!" They say,

Who will be the killer?

Who will be the winner?

"Shoot him!"

Who will be the killer?

Can't give in!

You know you can't begin to

imagine where I've been,

until you've walked a while in my shoes.

Surrounded and outnumbered.

Children wearing bombs?

I'm crying.

Oh, now I can't stop to sympathize.

Would you trade your eyes for mine?

I'll give you more time to answer.

I'll give you some time to rethink.

but there's never time when

the bullets are flying.

You duck your head and hit the ground!

"Shoot him"! Yeah!

Who will be the killer?

Who will be the winner?

"Shoot him!" Yeah,

I've got to be the killer!

I've got to LIVE!

They say hit the ground hard

when you feel it.

Open your eyes so you can see it.

Don't try to think just believe it.

Then you'll know you're not dreaming!

"Shoot him!" Yeah,

Who will be the killer?

Am I dreaming?

Wake up! Buck up and listen!

Where am I?

Head reeling, I guess I wasn't dreaming.

Heart racing. Hard to breathe.

You were right.

Got myself here in the middle of Hell.

It's all right. I'll be all right.

All right.

Laser light shines bright behind me.

Can't see what's ahead or beside me.

Everyone here has a gun.

We drive straight down the centerline.

No mistakes, not like last time.

You don't want to be on the wrong side of Hell.

I'm all right. I'll be all right.

All right.

I'm just trying to hold on

to whatever is left of me.

Keeping my head down,

crawling on my hands and knees.

They're always out there.

I feel their eyes always watching me.

If you blink...they'll disappear.

The Med E Vac lifts off the ground and I

can't feel a thing.

I don't really understand what happened.

There are some here

that won't make it out alive but

it's not gonna be me...

this time. You'll see!

I'll be all right. I'll be all right.

All right.

I have so much more to say, my brother.

Can you hear me?

A fool is left to live as the brave ones fall.

I swear if I were able,

I would have done the same for you.

But now you're gone and I wish I were too.

I spend all my time asking questions,

How can I pay you back when

the price you paid was so high, my friends.

If I were King of all I imagine,

I would trade all I am

to have you by my side.

If I were King.

I have too much time today, my brother.

Can you hear me?

I know where I am, but I still feel lost.

Please know that I am grateful

for the years you gave to me.

Everything's changed, but nothing changes

for you.

I won't waste my life asking questions.

I've seen the horror of war and

there's so much more for a man who's been

where I've been.

If I were King of all I imagine,

I would trade what I have

to have you back at my side.

If I were King of all I imagine,

we would both be back home

living the rest of our lives.

If I were King.

Hey, I'm okay.

Another day, another nightmare begins.

And the sound that I hear

is the relentless firing in my head.

Shifting gear in the driver's seat as

the finger of g'd signals me

and this concrete bloodline carries me.

Never thought I'd bring the war back home.

I'm a number; I'm a casualty of war

for a cause I never had the chance,

didn't understand the score.

They told me that I'd be okay,

assume civilian life, live day to day.

But when I think about it my hands still shake,

and I know what I am...

Man Down!

I'm in overdrive, barely alive!

As long as I keep moving, I'm all right.

Was that a muzzle flash from my past

or just my mind misfiring?

With one eye in mirror I see

the 'Cavalry of g'd" coming up on me.

Bumper to bumper, traveling fast,

waving Satan over...

I'm a number; I'm a casualty of war,

for a cause I never had the chance,

never understood the score.

They told me that I'd be okay,

assume civilian life, live day to day.

But when I think about it my hands still shake,

and I know what I am...

Man Down!

For just one minute, step into my life.

Read the page and

run away with me.

The day I made that vow.

I didn't know then what I know today.

There's so much to say.

I don't know what the future holds

and I'm sorry if I seemed too cold.

A man conflicted in his head

makes poor choices, regrets the words he said.

Remember me and all the times we had.

The way I held you.

Remember me whenever you feel sad.

All I want from you

is for you to tell me that you miss me.

Will you wait for me?

Remember me...please.

Just wait one minute. Give me a chance

and I'll make you see just what you really

mean to me.

It took a living hell to

show me. All I want is to be with you.

You know that what I say is true.

I promise when I get back home

I'll be the man you used to know.

And I won't spend another day

without you, girl.

I need your strength.

Please stay and

remember me and all the times we had.

The way I loved you.

Remember me whenever you feel sad.

All I want from you

is for you to tell me that you miss me.

Will you wait for me?

Remember me.

It's harder than I thought,

to be so far away.

So I thought I'd write this letter to you and explain.

For me it wasn't easy to raise the flag and leave.

But I thought that you should know how

much you mean to me.

I won't be there to see you dance and hear

you sing the songs we love.

So please be strong and it won't be long till

I'm home again.

You know you make me proud

because you're the one that I depend upon.

And when I return, I promise,

I'll never leave you alone again.

It's harder than I thought and you're so far away.

So I thought I'd write this letter to you and explain.

It was only a moment.

I turned my head to wipe my eyes and

when I looked again I saw your smile that

said goodbye.

Mama says don't worry

because Daddy's brave and he's coming

home. But if I could change one thing,

I'd never let you go.

I want you here to see me dance and sing

along to the songs we love.

So I'll be strong. It won't be long till you're

home again with me.

When it feels too much to take,

I want you to know that I'm thinking about

you, making plans for when I'm home.

Why aren't you here?

I wake up every night.

I check the front porch light,

making sure it's shining bright.

And I'll be there to shine the light

So you can find your way to me.

I'm feeling strong, but don't take too long.

Please come home to me.

I'll be there to see you dance and hear you

sing the songs I love.

It won't be long.

It won't be long till I'm home again!

Why aren't you here?

I'm coming home!

am I still alive?

I think I've got it right.

I'm, I'm made of light.

Before I leave and go away,

I have some things that I must say.

Before I am gone.

Finally now I see,

there's so much inside of me.

Is everyone innocent?

The blood on the ground is almost dry

I'll take this chance, I'll try...

I'll try to tell you...

There's so many possibilities,

that I'm just starting to see.

It's like the poets that have always said,

when life is hanging from a thread...

you can hear that voice in your head.

And now my heart's done bleeding,

but I've just started seeing.

I feel my courage match the tide

as I see the other side.

When will we hear this voice all the time?

Just like a child in mother's arms,

I know I'm warm and safe, no harm

from whatever comes from now on.