Verse 1 Rain keeps washing out the ground, Heavy boots, that sucking sound. “Get down!” screams the whistle loud, Mud in my mouth, no questions now. I look for ground that isn’t wet, But his eyes say: you’re not done yet. “Crawl up here, right where I stand!” Face in dirt, just part of the plan. Pre-Chorus Mud on my skin, pride in the ground, Drill makes you hard — respect’s not found. Chorus Barracks stench, drill in my head, Orders scream, humanity’s dead. Polish boots till they shine like gold, But inside, man, you’re growing cold. I learn the rules, I won’t eat the shame, Orders are orders — but I won’t play that game. Verse 2 Evening roll call, boots look clean, Battle suit wrecked, know what I mean. Weekend comes, the washer spins, While the rest just drown in tins. Signal corps, same damn days, Shift work burns your mind away. Cold lunch late in a cramped old truck, If that’s fun — then I’m out of luck. Pre-Chorus Order on paper, chaos inside, Rank decides who gets to decide. Chorus Barracks stench, drill in my head, Orders scream, humanity’s dead. Polish boots till they shine like gold, But inside, man, you’re growing cold. I learn the rules, I won’t eat the shame, Orders are orders — but I won’t play that game. Bridge Beer goes down, thoughts get heavy, Leadership’s more than stripes and chevrons. I see real fast who just loves control, And who still treats you like a soul. One stripe showing, “set the tone”, March in line, don’t walk alone. Not in step, not picture-clean, Guess who gets the blame again? Verse 3 “You should lead — you should know!” But where to march when no one knows? Four-year deal, one door still there, No promotion — freedom’s fair. No course, no rank, no fake respect, I’d rather leave than just collect. Two years done, end of June, ’78 — yeah, I walked out soon. Chorus (last, harder) Barracks stench, drill in my head, Orders scream, humanity’s dead. Polish boots till they shine like gold, But inside, man, you’re growing cold. I learned the drill, not the shame, Orders are orders — I choose my own damn way. Outro Discipline can shape a man, But humiliation never can. I keep what made me strong and proud, Leave behind what just stank loud.
