Forgive me O young brave marine For fighting in that long past war And not securing lasting peace That this old world was thirsting for.
It was on lonely foreign soil That we shed our mortality To help oppressed downtrodden souls Ignite the flame of liberty.
We plowed the furrows deep and long And fertilized that barren soil With flesh and blood of brave young men Who gave their lives in that turmoil.
And though we tried to cultivate A sense of freedom in those lands, When we went home, the peace we’d won Would often slip right through their hands.
Today how many back at home At night get down on bended knees And seek protection from their Gods For loved ones fighting overseas.
How many widows wring their hands And toss those wreaths upon the sea To honor those who fell and died To keep the living strong and free.
How many lovers will awake At night alone in tears and crave That once warm body that now lies All cold and stiffened in his grave.
I’d trade the medals on my chest For one brave soldier’s dying breath; That his young children might be spared The sad news of their father’s death.
I shed a tear as I recall The many battles fought in vain, The treaties signed for peace on earth For those of us who here remain.
And then somewhere upon this globe Some evil spawn will raise its head, And then again a call to arms, And then again we count the dead.
So prayers are all I offer now, For I am old unfit to fight. The young and brave now take my place As I lie snug in bed tonight.