[Intro] (Spoken) Nobody gives a damn about your excuses. Nobody cares how tired you are. The mission still has to get done. The soldiers still need a leader. That’s where NCOs earn their pay. [Verse 1] Alarm goes off before the sun comes up, Coffee tastes like shit but I’m already up. Got troops to check and gear to inspect, Fixing dumb mistakes before they turn into a wreck. Some kid’s got problems back home on his mind, Another one’s struggling just trying to get by. I don’t get to quit because I’m having a bad day, My soldiers are watching everything I say. I teach them the job, teach them right from wrong, Teach them how to keep moving when the days get long. When things get ugly and pressure hits hard, That’s when leadership shows what the hell you are. [Pre-Chorus] This rank ain’t a trophy and it damn sure ain’t fame, It’s carrying responsibility every day. When everything goes sideways and people lose their head, An NCO steps up instead. [Chorus] I’m holding the line when shit hits the fan, Taking care of soldiers and sticking to the plan. One hand on the mission, one helping my team, Doing the hard work nobody sees. From the motor pool to some miserable range, The job stays the same even when things change. I don’t need a medal or my name in lights, Just give me my soldiers and we’ll be alright. [Verse 2] No one is more professional, that’s what we say, But words don’t mean shit if you can’t back them up each day. Being an NCO means knowing your people, Knowing who’s hurting and who’s doing lethal. It’s staying late when everybody else goes home, Making damn sure nobody fights alone. Checking on your troops when nobody’s around, Because good leaders don’t disappear when things go down. I know their strengths and I know their flaws, And I’ll call their ass out when I have to, because The standard matters and so does pride, That’s how we keep this machine alive. [Pre-Chorus] The mission comes first and that’s no lie, But taking care of soldiers is right beside it. Some days suck and some days hurt, You still lace your boots and go to work. [Chorus] I’m holding the line when shit hits the fan, Taking care of soldiers and sticking to the plan. One hand on the mission, one helping my team, Doing the hard work nobody sees. From the motor pool to some miserable range, The job stays the same even when things change. I don’t need a medal or my name in lights, Just give me my soldiers and we’ll be alright. [Bridge - Country Rap] Everybody wants stripes until it’s time to lead. Everybody wants respect until somebody else has a need. Late nights, missed meals, paperwork stacked high, Trying to solve ten problems before midnight. You learn real fast this job ain’t about you. It’s about the troops standing next to you. If they win, I win. If they fail, I own it. That’s the damn deal when you put these stripes on it. [Final Chorus] I’m holding the line when shit hits the fan, Taking care of soldiers and sticking to the plan. One hand on the mission, one helping my team, Doing the hard work nobody sees. Building future leaders one day at a time, Teaching them the standard and showing them why. When my time is done and I’m finally gone, The soldiers I trained will carry it on. [Outro] (Spoken) The officers make decisions. The soldiers carry them out. NCOs make damn sure both happen. That’s the creed. That’s the job. And it never fucking ends.
