The Veteran

1. 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.

[Chorus:]
When you sing, do you sing for the man who is broken
Do you sing for the man who stands alone
Do you sing for the endless list of names
Etched on marble stone?

2. He learned his lesson 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.

3. 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,
And he was left with nothing when the glory began to fade.

4. So, what do say to the veteran who can't take it anymore
You guard your words, and 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.