Song Description
My tribute to my brother James Virgil Conaway and his Viet Nam Story. He developed PTSD after coming back from Viet Nam.
| Song Length |
5:33 |
Genre |
Rock - Roots/Rock n' Roll, Folk - Rock |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant |
Subject |
General, Sadness |
| Language |
English |
Era |
1990 - 1999 |
Lyrics
Uncle Virgil died, buried at sea in WWII
My brother Jim was given his name to honor the man we never knew
While we were growing up, playing war was our favorite game
From Iwo Jima to the Alamo, we fought for country & glory & fame
Then Jim went to Viet Nam and we saw on TV that war was no game
My brother made it back alive but he would never be the same.
It was the happiest day of our lives
The day James Virgil came marching home
He was drinking martinis all the way from Tokyo
And when he danced his way off of that plane, Mom became herself again
And Dad choked back the only tears he'd ever shown
James Virgil was the only hero I've ever known.
It's a soldiers tears, bronze stars and purple hearts
It's the nightmares and the guilt and the fears
It's a war that tore this country apart
Oh mother rest at ease your son is in heaven now
Brother rest in peace, Viet Nam can't haunt you now.
It was the happiest day of our lives
The day James Virgil came marching home
He was drinking martinis all the way from Tokyo
And when he danced his way off of that plane, Mom became herself again
And Dad choked back the only tears he'd ever shown
James Virgil was the only hero I've ever known.
It's our place in time, some rings around the family tree
When we can't leave our past behind we go wading through fallen leaves.
We go wading through fallen leaves.