[Storyteller.]

The first thing I did when
that plane finally landed
was kiss the ground.
The next thing I did
was to go find my friends
down at the old hangout;
drank some beer and talked
a lot about old times.
But when the booze finally
hit Billy Joe Grimes
He said, "I don't know what it is,
but you seem different to me."

I said, "I just came back from
a place where they hated me
and everything I stand for,
a land where our brothers
are dying for others
who don't even care anymore.
If I'm not exactly the same good old boy
that you ran around with before...
I just came back from a war."

The very next morning
I took a walk through
the neighborhood.
I thought, It's been so long since
I've been in a place where
everything is good;
people laughing and
children were playing.
And as I watched them
I found myself praying:
Lord, keep them safe
here at home in the
land of the free.

I hope you cherish this
sweet way of life,
and I hope you know
that it comes with a price.