Sunday, December 21, 2008

The General

There was a decorated General with a heart of gold 
That likened him to all the stories he told 
Of past battles won and lost and legends of old 
A seasoned veteran in his own time 
On the battlefield he gained respectable fame 
With many metals of bravery and stripes to his name 
He grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face 
And always urged his men on 

But on the eve of great battle with the infantry in dream 
The old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning 
He awoke from the night just to tell what he had seen 
And walked slowly out of his tent 

All the men held tall with their chests in the air 
With the courage in their blood and a fire in their stare 
And it was a gray morning and they all wondered how they would fare 
Till the old general told them to go home 

He said, 
I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting 
And I've have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I'm going 

So, take your shower, shine your shoes 
You got no time to lose 
You are young men you must be living 
Take your shower, shine your shoes 
Well, you got no time to lose 
You are young men you must be living 
Go now you are forgiven 

But the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders 
Not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders 
The general said he would do his own duty 
But he would extend it no further 
The men could go as they pleased 
But not a man moved their eyes gazed straight ahead 
Till one by one they stepped back and not a word was said 
And the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head 
He then prepared to fight 

He said, 
I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting 
And I've have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I'm going 

So, take your shower, shine your shoes 
You got no time to lose 
You are young men you must be living 
Take your shower, shine your shoes 
Well, you got no time to lose 
You are young men you must be living 
Go now you are forgiven