Song of a Soldier Phil Ochs

[Verse 1]
And the flag-draped coffins are a-sailin' home
And the waves are watchin' as the engine drones
As the ship draws near, hear the bugle moan
The sad and silent song of a soldier

[Verse 2]
With a hero's greeting we will welcome him
With a hero's speeches we will honor him
With a hero's ending we will bury him
That's the sad and silent song of a soldier

[Verse 3]
And comfort his family with a telegram
We regret to inform you we have lost a man
But we gave him the highest medal of the land
That's the sad and silent song of a soldier

[Verse 4]
We know what an awful price he had to pay
But the enemy was contained for another day
We trained him well, he would have wanted it that way
That's the sad and silent song of a soldier

[Verse 5]
Oh, the weary wounded they wait by his side
Wondering why they hadn't also died
The picture of patriotic pride
That's the sad and silent song of a soldier