The Veteran

I saw the echo of a thousand wars in the face of the man
As he looked out over the watching crowd searching for a friend
Sometimes he would see a face but then each face looks the same
Like looking into a mirror and reading a different name
Different name.

He learned his lessons early, a confirmation under fire
Now his eyes stare into the distance like a prisoner behind the wire
We are lucky in our fortune, we can turn the other way
But the veteran fights again at night and struggles through the day
Through the day.

When you sing do you sing for the man who's broken
Do you sing for the man who stands alone
Do you sing for the endless list of names
Etched in marble stone
Etched in marble stone.

He came back an addict, he came back a drunk
He came back a cripple, or pieces in a trunk
He came back a hero to a waving flag parade
He was left with nothing when the glory began to fade
Began to fade.

So what do you say to the veteran who can't take it any more
You guard your words, you hold it back and talk of anything but the war
Just reach out over the distance and let him know you're there
And hope he hasn't gone too far, or forgotten how to care
How to care.

When you sing do you sing for the man who's broken
Do you sing for the man who stands alone
Do you sing for the endless list of names
Etched in marble stone.

When you sing do you sing for the man who's broken
Do you sing for the man who stands alone
Do you sing for the endless list of names
Etched in marble stone
Etched in marble stone.