The War Came Home

They flew me out in '69, said I'd be back a man Taught me how to fight and bleed on someone else’s land But when I hit that tarmac, all the flags were lookin’ down And the folks I fought for wouldn’t let me in the town I didn’t dodge the letter, didn’t burn no draft Just signed my name and packed my bag, never looked back I saw hell in the jungle, but worse was here at home No parades or second chances—just silence, blame, and stone The war came home with me, and no one wants to know You call me killer, call me pawn—but you don’t see my soul I ain’t your villain, I ain’t your shame I’m the cost you buried when you cursed my name I held my buddy’s hand the day he died in flames We both believed in duty—now they spit upon our names You can hate the war, yeah, that’s your right to choose But don’t forget the broken ones who paid those heavy dues We bled for stars and stripes, now we fade like ghosts Lyin’ low with scars, in bars or halfway homes But somewhere deep inside, a fire still burns We still need peace, we still deserve return The war came home with me, and still it doesn’t end You lock it in a box and call it history, my friend But I’m still here, still breathin’ slow With a story worth the tellin’—so let the silence go We ain't your shame, We ain't your sin— We're the ones you sent, And we'd do it all again. But this time, Look us in the eyes Say “Welcome home,” Not more goodbyes.