Standing in front of the black wall, with lots of names carved in,
Trying to make a little bit of sense of it all - where do I begin'
Most of us shared so much, for never ever having met,
It's too much to remember; how could I forget'

Past is always present, the present is no friend,
Afraid of what lies underneath the scratch below my skin,
Taking inventory at the surplus store,
Lines up in the cross hairs outside my front door.

I take me down Saigon River,
I take me down to the China Sea,
Put myself, unreservedly, in the stars and stripes forever,
I got a little cauterised brain, and a heart shot off at the knees.

And if you got a good home to go to it's cool, I guess I'll say,
Homeward bound, and we touched down there at the JFK,
I'd like to forget that moment; it's the curse of videotape,
Screaming and all the clenched fists, spit rolling down my face.

I take me down Saigon River,
I take me down to the China Sea,
Put myself, unreservedly, in the stars and stripes forever,
I got a little cauterised brain, and a heart shot off at the knees.

Late at night, TV's on, kids are off to bed,
Under the haze of the cathode ray, step out of the cargo bay,
Women and children, take them out first - whole thing feels so hopeless,
Smile or a handshake and lookout, baby, here comes the plastic explosive.

I take me down Saigon River,
I take me down to the China Sea,
Put myself, unreservedly, in the stars and stripes forever,
I got a little cauterised brain, and a heart shot off at the knees,
I got a little cauterised brain, and a heart shot off at the knees,
I got a little cauterised brain.