These unworthy hands… I stand here breathing morning air that they will never taste again The greatest people I have known never made it home They ran into the fire while I ran out alive Left their laughter in the desert where the wind still carries their goodbyes Heroes with quiet voices, giants dressed in camouflage Who gave their final heartbeat so the rest of us could carry on And I look down at these hands that made it home… Unworthy hands that got to hold their children once again Unworthy hands that get to feel the sunlight on my skin They were the greatest of us all, the bravest I have known And they never made it home… they never made it home I’m thankful for their courage, for the lives they chose to spend But these unworthy hands still shake every time I try to thank them He was the one who made us laugh when the nights got way too long She was the steady voice that kept us going when we thought we couldn’t go on They dreamed of simple futures — backyards, weddings, peace Instead they traded all their tomorrows so our children could be free Now their names are etched in marble, cold and beautiful and true While I’m still here with living hands that don’t feel half as good as you Unworthy hands that got to hold their children once again Unworthy hands that get to feel the sunlight on my skin They were the greatest of us all, the bravest I have known And they never made it home… they never made it home I’m thankful for their courage, for the lives they chose to spend But these unworthy hands still break every time I try to thank them If you can hear me… I’m sorry I came back… You gave everything so I could stand here I carry every single one of you in these unworthy hands Every smile you lost… every dream you never had Unworthy hands that get to live the life you gave away Unworthy hands that still get to see another day You were the greatest of us all, the ones who paid the price So we could wake up free beneath these peaceful morning skies I’m thankful… I’m broken… I’m grateful… I’m lost For every hero who never made it home… I carry the cost Unworthy hands… Thank you… I remember…
