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“21”
I
ought to be excited, I turned 21 today,
But
I’m not, you see, I’m in a place very far away.
Instead
of being with all my friends in a local bar,
I
am with all my friends, in the Vietnam war.
No
one to say “Hey, happy birthday son”,
Instead
all I hear is, “Hey man, shoot your gun”.
We
are flying into a very hot, small LZ,
And
Charlie is waiting for your celebration, don’t you see.
Many
a young man is celebrating 21 today,
Some
are at home, and some are here, very far away.
But,
none at home will remember exactly what they did,
Like
those of us who were standing on a Huey’s skid.
There
was lots of yelling, but it wasn’t a cheer,
It
was many young men who were living and dying in fear.
It
wasn’t the fear of dying, that’s the easy part,
The
fear of losing your buddy, it just breaks your heart.
No,
turning 21 just is not the same over here,
When
almost everyday, you live in dreaded fear.
I
would give anything, if I didn’t have to see,
So
many young men, who are dying in front of me.
Some
of these men will never see 21,
Most
are just kids, who should be having fun.
They
are doing their best just to live their life,
And
protect their buddy in this horrible strife.
Well
this birthday is finally over, here in Vietnam,
I
saw many a young boy who would never be a man.
They
won’t get past 18 or 19 years of age,
Not
in this place of hate and heated rage.
Tomorrow
will come, yes another day,
What
will we face, who can say?
One
thing is sure, because if you can,
You
go to Vietnam a boy and come back home a man.
©
Keith Bodine 1999
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