Most Unusual Friends

Sometimes you carry friends on your back

One takes you from reality the other protects from attack

Both beaten and worn, a little worse for wear

But without them you'd never make it out of there

The Guitar echoes the blues under the Vietnam moon

the sounds drifting out to entrance the platoon

others gather close to hear sweet melodies

minds wandering home upon the humid jungle breeze

The Rifle, a weapon held much the same way

defender of life so he can live one more day

misunderstood by protesters who sing of peace back home

this rifle is their freedom, the soldier stands alone

" There's something happening here

What it is ain't exactly clear

there's a man with a gun over there

telling me I've got to beware "

.... Stop, children what's that sound

everybody look what's going down....

...... Turn your mind and hearts away

baby killers on the silver bird today

soon they'll be coming back home

greet them all with a fist full of stones .....

....Stop, children spit on the ground

let them know we don't want em' around....

....They fought thirteen months in Vietnam 

while we got high at Woodstock on a farm

Making love and getting so high

not caring if our young men live or die ....

.... Smoke that joint, dance round and round

unaware of the death that's pouring down ....

The soldier stands alone and waits 

trying hard to keep his head on straight

Guitar and rifle upon his back

 awaiting the chopper, on the tarmac

... It's flying in to take him away

and he hopes to survive just one more day ...

Boon 8/27/02