5. Tin Helmets

[Verse 1] Boot prints in the playground dust Chalk lines buried under rust Swing set chains scream in the wind Like they know what’s closing in Posters peeling off the wall Smiling faces Shopping malls Sirens teach the kids to count One to ten Then hit the ground [Chorus] Tin helmets Paper hearts All our heroes torn apart They paint the sky in borrowed fire Call it peace Call it desire Tin helmets Plastic guns Tell us who’s the lucky one When the medals weigh like stones And we still sleep in combat zones [Verse 2] Mom folds flags like laundry now Same small shake in every bow Empty boots beside the door Mud dried into one long war Screens light up the kitchen tile Victory graphs A ticker smile They sell courage by the share While we learn not to look Just stare [Chorus] Tin helmets Paper hearts All our heroes torn apart They paint the sky in borrowed fire Call it peace Call it desire Tin helmets Plastic guns Tell us who’s the lucky one When the medals weigh like stones And we still sleep in combat zones [Bridge] Tell me Is this what you planned Names engraved on broken sand Prayers stuck in a loading bar Black tape on a backyard star (woah) If every side says “we’re right” Who turns off the screaming night? Or do we just raise the price For another roll of loaded dice [Chorus] Tin helmets Paper hearts All our heroes torn apart They paint the sky in borrowed fire Call it peace Call it desire Tin helmets Plastic guns Tell us who’s the lucky one When the silence finally comes Will we recognize what we’ve become?