[Intro — acoustic guitar, sparse and quiet] Another flag folded tight, Another name carved into stone, Another empty chair tonight, Another brother not coming home. But not every war ends When they send you stateside again. Some battles follow a Marine Long after the shooting ends. **[Verse 1]** Some fell beneath a foreign sky, With their brothers by their side, Some gave everything they had So the rest of us survived. We learned their names, we told their stories, Raised a glass and said goodbye, Promised we'd never forget them— Semper Fi until we die. **[Pre-Chorus]** But there's another roll of names We don't talk about enough, The ones who made it home from war But never really left. **[Chorus — full band enters]** Honor the fallen, remember their names, The ones lost in battle, the ones lost to pain. And stand with the brothers still fighting tonight, Carrying wars that are hidden from sight. "No Marine left behind" was never just words, So shoulder their burden when living still hurts. For the living, the lost, and the ones holding on— Semper Fidelis. Honor the fallen. **[Verse 2]** There's a Marine staring at the ceiling, Three in the morning, wide awake, Still hearing voices from another life, Still seeing faces he can't shake. There's another working overtime, Trying just to pay the rent, One hiding bottles in the garage, One wondering where the good years went. Some wear medals on their chest, Some wear scars beneath their clothes. Some learned how to hide it well So nobody ever knows. **[Pre-Chorus]** We were taught to carry weight, To keep moving when it hurts. But strength ain't dying silently Because you're scared to say the words. **[Chorus]** Honor the fallen, remember their names, The ones lost in battle, the ones lost to pain. And stand with the brothers still fighting tonight, Carrying wars that are hidden from sight. "No Marine left behind" was never just words, So shoulder their burden when living still hurts. For the living, the lost, and the ones holding on— Semper Fidelis. Honor the fallen. **[Instrumental — restrained electric guitar over acoustic rhythm]** **[Bridge — instruments drop back; vocal close and direct]** And if you're still here With your back to the wall, Brother, your name Doesn't belong on that roll. We've carried each other Through fire before. So put down the weight— You don't carry it alone anymore. Call your old squad. Wake somebody up. Say, *"Brother, I'm hurting."* That's more than enough. You stood watch for us once. Now we'll stand watch for you. That's what Semper Fidelis Was always supposed to mean. **[Build]** For every Marine We couldn't bring home, For every Marine Who came home feeling alone, For every Marine Who's still here tonight— **Stay in the fight.** **[Final Chorus — largest arrangement, powerful but solemn]** Honor the fallen, remember their names, The ones lost in battle, the ones lost to pain. But fight for the brothers still with us tonight, Don't wait for a funeral to stand by their side. "No Marine left behind" was never just words, Not overseas—and not here at home. For the living, the lost, and the ones holding on, We'll carry each other Until the battle is gone. For the young and the old, For the brave and the scarred, For the ones standing watch When just standing is hard. Raise a glass for the gone— Put an arm around the living. **Semper Fidelis.** **Honor the fallen.** **[Outro — acoustic guitar only]** Another flag folded tight, Another name carved into stone... God willing, brother, We don't add yours. **Stay.**
