[Intro] [Radio voice, filtered] ORDERS RECEIVED. MISSION CONFIRMED. [Low soldier chant] WHO WALKS THE LINE? WE WALK THE LINE! WHO CARRIES THE WEIGHT? WE CARRY THE WEIGHT! [Verse 1] A paper gets signed in an office downtown A map gets marked and the word goes around A general speaks and the engines ignite And somebody's child won't be sleeping tonight They packed up their courage, their letters, their gear They learned how to function in the middle of fear They swore an oath to the country they serve But an oath doesn't mean you don't feel every nerve They carry the orders, the doubt and the strain They carry the memories that follow like rain And the folks making choices may never quite see What a line on a map means to a family [Chorus] THE ORDERS DON'T BLEED! THE PAPER DON'T CRY! THE INK DOESN'T STAND WHERE THE BULLETS FLY! THE SPEECHES DON'T SHAKE WHEN THE NIGHT GETS LOUD! BUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND STAND PROUD! THE ORDERS DON'T BLEED! THE FLAGS DON'T FEEL PAIN! THE SOLDIER COMES HOME WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE RAIN! SO BEFORE YOU SEND THEM WHERE THE DARKNESS RUNS DEEP MAKE DAMN SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO KEEP! [Verse 2] Some joined for the country, some joined for a chance Some needed direction, some learned to advance They came from the farms and the streets of the town From the places where ordinary people hold down A job, a family, a promise, a dream Then life put them somewhere beyond what it seemed Now the radio crackles, the night stretches wide And the ones back at home keep their fear locked inside Don't call them weak when they question the reason Don't call them heroes only during election season If service means sacrifice, honor it right With care when they return and support in their fight [Chorus] THE ORDERS DON'T BLEED! THE PAPER DON'T CRY! THE INK DOESN'T STAND WHERE THE BULLETS FLY! THE SPEECHES DON'T SHAKE WHEN THE NIGHT GETS LOUD! BUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND STAND PROUD! THE ORDERS DON'T BLEED! THE FLAGS DON'T FEEL PAIN! THE SOLDIER COMES HOME WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE RAIN! SO BEFORE YOU SEND THEM WHERE THE DARKNESS RUNS DEEP MAKE DAMN SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO KEEP! [Bridge] [Erie high whistle, distant cadence] LEFT IN THE MORNING! RIGHT THROUGH THE NIGHT! LEFT FOR THE FAMILY! RIGHT FOR THE FIGHT! [Lead vocal] THEY ARE NOT YOUR SLOGAN! THEY ARE NOT YOUR GAME! THEY ARE PEOPLE WITH A FUTURE! THEY ARE PEOPLE WITH A NAME! [Breakdown] [Boot stomps and deep group chants] WHO CARRIES THE COST? THE SOLDIER! WHO LIVES WITH THE LOSS? THE FAMILY! WHO DESERVES THE TRUTH? THE PEOPLE! WHO DESERVES OUR CARE? ALL OF THEM! [Final Chorus] THE ORDERS DON'T BLEED! THE PAPER DON'T CRY! SO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS BEFORE PEOPLE DIE! LET THE LEADERS EXPLAIN WHAT THEY NEED US TO DO! LET THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE MISSION IS FOR, TOO! THE ORDERS DON'T BLEED! BUT THE SOLDIERS ARE REAL! THEY DESERVE MORE THAN A SPEECH ABOUT HOW WE FEEL! IF WE SEND THEM AWAY, WE MUST STAND BY THEIR SIDE! FROM THE FIRST DAY THEY LEAVE UNTIL THEY MAKE IT HOME ALIVE! [Outro] [Radio static fades, followed by a lone whistle] MISSION COMPLETE. [Quiet voice] NOW BRING EVERYBODY HOME.
