[Verse 1 — low, steady marching rhythm] I came from a town on the Outer Rim, Where jobs were few and the future was slim. No work there, nothing much to do, Empire recruiter said, “We got a place for you.” They gave me a helmet, a blaster, a line, Then they called me Stormtrooper 89-89. Sent half my credits every month back home, Mama said, “Son, don’t stay gone too long.” [Pre-Chorus — tension rising] They told us keep the peace, protect what’s true. My guess is they said the same thing to you. [Chorus — wide, heavy] I’m Stormtrooper 89-89, Just a simple guy tryin’ to live my life. You see that helmet, think you know me, Judge my intentions by the uniform you see. You see them as Rebels, fighting to be free, I was taught they are enemies to me. I bet you never knew the boys who died, While you celebrated on the other side. [Verse 2 — warmer, introducing the crew] Jax had twins he’d only seen on a screen, Vale was nineteen, still young and green. Zenn talked all day ‘bout a girl back home, Saved every credit for a wedding stone. We worked our shifts, played cards on break, Talked about all the future plans we’d make. Then Rebels hit the checkpoint just before dawn, By breakfast time, all four of us gone. [Pre-Chorus — tension begins] But history remembers uniforms not names, And whoever wins gets the chance to explain. [Chorus — wide, heavy] I’m Stormtrooper 89-89, Just a simple guy tryin’ to live my life. You see that helmet, think you know me, Judge my intentions by the uniform you see. You see them as Rebels, fighting to be free, I was taught they are enemies to me. I bet you never knew the boys who died, While you celebrated on the other side. [Verse 3 — urgent, cinematic] Once Yavin appeared on the targeting screen, Rebel X-wings came after the machine. Red Leader missed, Biggs went down, Tie fighters hit the trench and spun back around. Then Solo came back when Luke needed room, Sent Vader flying, sealed all our doom. Luke switched off his targeting, trusted the Force, Two torpedoes dropped, direct hit, of course. [Break — alarms, heartbeat, music cuts] Your pilots got medals, Your heroes got songs. Our families got boxes And tried to move on. And maybe Luke saved you— Maybe that’s true. But Jax’s little boys had a hero once too. [Final Chorus — full instrumentation, emotional peak] I’m Stormtrooper 89-89, Just a simple guy who ran out of time. Had folks back home, had plans of my own, Had somebody waiting for me to come home. You call Luke Skywalker a hero that night, I guess from your side, maybe that’s right. But heroes and villains depend where you stand— I was just somebody’s son in the end. [Outro — instrumentation falling away] Funny how different a victory looks from the losing side. Tell my family goodbye from… Stormtrooper 89-89.
