[Intro] [Low ominous male voice] WASHINGTON TALKS! THE CAMERAS ROLL! THE MAPS LIGHT UP! BUT WHO PAYS THE TOLL? [Distant soldier cadence] LEFT! RIGHT! LEFT! RIGHT! BOOTS ON THE GROUND TONIGHT! [Verse 1] There's a flag on the shoulder and dust on the face A young man standing in a far off place Mama's got a picture beside her bed Praying every night for the words he's never said A politician talks from a polished stage About strength, security, turning the page Trump says boots on the ground, those words hit the air But somebody's son is the one standing there It's easy to talk when the cameras are rolling Harder to see what the families are holding A folded flag and a front porch light A thousand silent prayers in the middle of the night [Pre Chorus] WHO MAKES THE CALL? WHO BEARS THE COST? WHO BRINGS THEM HOME WHEN THE WAY GETS LOST? [Chorus] BOOTS ON THE GROUND! HEARTS ON THE LINE! MEN AND WOMEN SERVING WHILE THE POWERS DESIGN! YOU CAN TALK THAT TALK FROM A ROOM UP HIGH BUT IT'S THE ONES IN UNIFORM WHO WALK BENEATH THAT SKY! BOOTS ON THE GROUND! LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW! THEY CARRY THE WEIGHT EVERYWHERE THEY GO! DON'T JUST PRAISE THEIR NAMES WHEN THE BATTLE IS DONE STAND BESIDE THE SOLDIER, EVERY DAUGHTER, EVERY SON! [Background chant] BOOTS ON THE GROUND! BRING THEM HOME! BOOTS ON THE GROUND! THEY'RE NOT ALONE! [Verse 2] There's a kid back home drawing stars on a page Counting down the days, growing up with the age There's a wife reading messages over and over Trying to find some peace while she's waiting for closure Some follow their orders, some question the cost Some carry home memories of everything lost They didn't write the policy, they didn't draw the line But they live with the choices made far beyond their time I love this land, every river and field But loving your country means seeing what's real You can honor the uniform and question the plan You can stand for the troops and demand answers again [Pre Chorus] WHO MAKES THE CALL? WHO BEARS THE COST? WHO BRINGS THEM HOME WHEN THE WAY GETS LOST? [Chorus] BOOTS ON THE GROUND! HEARTS ON THE LINE! MEN AND WOMEN SERVING WHILE THE POWERS DESIGN! YOU CAN TALK THAT TALK FROM A ROOM UP HIGH BUT IT'S THE ONES IN UNIFORM WHO WALK BENEATH THAT SKY! BOOTS ON THE GROUND! LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW! THEY CARRY THE WEIGHT EVERYWHERE THEY GO! DON'T JUST PRAISE THEIR NAMES WHEN THE BATTLE IS DONE STAND BESIDE THE SOLDIER, EVERY DAUGHTER, EVERY SON! [Bridge] [Haunting patriotic whistle over distant drums] WHO SPEAKS FOR THE FALLEN? WHO CARES FOR THE WOUNDED? WHO HELPS THE RETURNING WHEN THE HOMECOMING'S THROUGH IT? WHO STANDS WITH THE FAMILIES? WHO KEEPS THE PROMISE MADE? WHO ANSWERS FOR THE ORDERS WHEN THE MUSIC FADES AWAY? [Breakdown] [Deep soldier chants] WE SERVE THE PEOPLE! WE SERVE THE LAND! WE CARRY THE WEIGHT! WE MAKE OUR STAND! [Lead vocal] DON'T USE THEIR COURAGE TO HIDE YOUR MISTAKES! DON'T MAKE THEM THE PRICE FOR THE CHOICES YOU MAKE! [Final Chorus] BOOTS ON THE GROUND! HEARTS ON THE LINE! THEY DESERVE THE TRUTH, NOT ANOTHER DAMN LINE! IF YOU SEND THEM OUT, THEN YOU OWE THEM A PLAN! YOU OWE THEM THE REASONS, YOU OWE THEM A STAND! BOOTS ON THE GROUND! LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW! THEY ARE MORE THAN THE NUMBERS ON A MILITARY ROLL! HONOR THEIR SERVICE WHEN THE BATTLE IS DONE! STAND BESIDE THE SOLDIER, EVERY DAUGHTER, EVERY SON! [Outro] [Whistle fades into a low military drum] LEFT! RIGHT! BRING THEM HOME! LEFT! RIGHT! THEY'RE NOT ALONE! BOOTS ON THE GROUND! AMERICA, REMEMBER!
