Stephen Tranter’s Virtual Hero by GM Jon

I was the virtual hero Playing war games in my youth Screen warriors were the foe And every slogan spelt the truth Then I had a dream of glory In a moment’s inspiration I bought the gilded story To serve the mother nation Yeah, my country reeled me in I had the kitbag in my hand the chance to wash away my sin In a far off promised land So mind you don’t trip right over me If you see me on the floor When I’m sleeping in a pavement tent Outside the city Superstore With the prospect of salvation I signed up, the oaths were sworn Time to serve my nation I got my boots and uniform I heard the patriotic call A siren from the sky Told me I’d be standing tall I never singled out the lie Yes my country reeled me in To take on fictitious foe I kept my life but lost a limb For folks I’d never know So mind you don’t feel sorry for me If you see me on the floor When I’m sleeping on the pavement Outside the city Superstore At my journeys end I find That men have feet of clay Now the scars of flesh and mind Weigh me down ‘most every day So when you spare a quid As you amble on by Remember I was that kid Who reached up to the sky  Yes, I was the virtual hero Playing war games in my youth I had some dreams of glory But I learnt a harder truth So mind that you don’t step on me If you see me on the floor When I’m sleeping in the pavement tent Outside the city Superstore