Buddies

‘I received the following email and song about Vietnam Brothers from the author and wanted to share it with you:

Good evening.   My name is Jim Lyons and I live in West Des Moines, Iowa.  Forgive the intrusion, but I just read about you and your book. 

I’m retired and one of my hobbies is writing songs, jingles, and doing some voiceover work.   We’re the same generation, but I was not in Viet Nam.  Had friends who were.

The things I write are mostly for fun and some yuks.  However, because of my friends, I wrote one serious song; “Buddies”.  It’s about two guys before, during, and after their Nam experience,  My pals liked it and could relate in various ways.  I thought I would send it to you and hope you might like it.   Even though I wasn’t there, it was written from the heart.  Thanks for listening.”Click below to listen to the song. Lyrics are included below for your reference, in case you’d like to follow along. Enjoy!

BUDDIES

Got out of high school back in ‘65
Lookin’ for adventure, and lovin’ life
We each got a letter, and I’ll be damned
They both said “Greetings from your Uncle Sam”

Looked each other and realized
Our country was callin’, no fear in our eyes
After sixteen weeks down in Leonard Wood
We were trained and ready and lookin’ real good
We played war when we were boys
But the guns we use now sure ain’t no toys
We’ve been buddies through thick and thin
No one could beat us, we’d always win

Got home once more, before we went off to war
Kissed our moms goodbye and our spirits soared
Spent time with our sweethearts and our GTO’s
Gave the cars to our brothers when we had to go

On down to the station to catch the bus
Some hippie guy there was really makin’ a fuss
Said I’d sneak up north before I’d go to war

So I used my boot to help him out the door

We played war when we were boys
But the guns we use now sure ain’t no toys
We’ve been buddies through thick and thin
No one can beat us, we’d always win

Thirty days later and man oh man
Headed to the jungles of Viet Nam
Got off that plane and walked straight into hell
Damn scared and shakin’, but we hid it well

Months in the delta, danger in the air
The enemy was hidin’ and we didn’t know where
Somehow we managed to remain alive
Stayin’ on the backside of the Claymore mines

We fought through that hell for a solid year
Then the orders came through, said “You’re outta here”
Made it back to the world, life shoulda been good
But things didn’t go the way we thought they would

I could tell you needed help
Didn’t know where to start

Watchin’ you struggle tore my heart apart
When you fight those demons every single day
A little bit of help would go a long long way
When I tried to help, you just walked away

We played war when we were boys
But the guns we use now sure ain’t no toys
We’ve been buddies through thick and thin
No one can beat us, we’d always win

It’s been five years and I’ve become a Dad
Wanted you to know about the joy I had
Looked high and low, and now I know
I lost my buddy a long time ago

As I stand here lookin’ down at your stone
I swear to God I never felt so alone
They say the war is over, that’s just not true
The fight goes on and on to those closest to you

It’s been a long time since Viet Nam
Now we fought through Iraq and Afghanistan
We lost a lot of buddies along the way

They gave everything they had for the USA!!!

*****

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