Lyrics

THERE WASN'T MUCH I'D EVER SEEN
KNEE HOLES IN MY JEANS
UNCLE BILL HAD SEEN IT
ALL
PURPLE HEART WAR IS HELL
STORIES I BEGGED HIM TO TELL
FILL MY HEAD WITH DREAMS
I STILL RECALL

THE NAVY GAVE 'EM STEAK AND EGGS
LOST EVERY EGG HE ATE
HE WAS IN THAT FIRST
WAVE
HE WAS ONLY ONE OF THREE
MADE IT OFF THAT LCV
GODDAMN THAT BOAT AND
BLESS THE USA

CHORUS
HE HIT THAT BEACH A RUNNIN'
HE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN
EXPLOSIONS IN THE WATER
MACHINE GUNS ON THE BEACH
FALLING BY THE THOUSANDS
TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY FREE
OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE (Sheesh!)
TEAR ROLLIN'
FROM HIS EYE

BRIDGE
NOW THOSE YOUNG GI'S WERE ONLY HUMAN
THE WORLD SOON FORGOT THEIR NAMES
BUT TO BOYS LIKE ME WHO REMEMBER
THOSE OLD SOLDIERS WON'T EVER
FADE AWAY

NORTH KOREA, VIET NAM
IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN
WHOLE WORLD IS GOING
UP IN FLAMES
YOU CAN SING THIS SONG TEN THOUSAND TIMES
DIFFERENT WORDS DIFFERENT RHYMES
LAST TWO LINES WILL ALWAYS
BE THE SAME

CHORUS
HE HIT THAT BEACH A RUNNIN'
HE WAS ONLY SEVENTEEN
NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT HIM
WOKE UP IN WALTER REED
DRANK TOO MUCH GOT LEFT BEHIND
BY THE ONLY GIRL HE LOVED
OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE (Is that right, Uncle Bill?)
TEAR ROLLIN'
FROM HIS EYE