[Intro — acoustic guitar, distant snare] There's a ribbon made of blue, With thirteen stars of white, But the weight ain't in the ribbon— It's in what they did that night. When every instinct said take cover, They saw somebody needed saving... And went beyond the call. [Verse 1] From Peking came Daniel Daly, Then Haiti called his name again. Smedley Butler earned it twice, Among those hard and early men. Different wars and uniforms, Different oceans, different years, But courage doesn't ask the century When somebody needs you there. [Chorus] Above and beyond the call, When somebody had to stand, They weren't fighting for a ribbon— They were fighting for the man On their left and on their right, When there was nowhere left to fall. Some came home, some gave it all... Above and beyond the call. [Verse 2] Basilone held Guadal canal, Kept those Brownings running hot. Joe Foss fought above the island, Twenty-three enemy aircraft shot. Shoup stood fast at Tarawa, Woody Williams crossed Iwo's walls. Across those bloody islands, Marines went beyond the call. [Chorus] Above and beyond the call, When somebody had to stand, They weren't fighting for a ribbon— They were fighting for the man On their left and on their right, When there was nowhere left to fall. Some came home, some gave it all... Above and beyond the call. [Verse 3] At Chosin, William Barber Held the road through frozen hell. Charles Abrell charged the bunker, Knowing damn well where he'd fell. Obregon covered his brothers, Windrich fought until the end. Simanek covered a grenade To shield the wounded men. Through those frozen mountains, Through the snow where Marines bled, They kept faith with those beside them— The living and the dead. [Chorus] Above and beyond the call, When somebody had to stand, They weren't fighting for a ribbon— They were fighting for the man On their left and on their right, Through the fire, through it all. Some came home, some gave it all... Above and beyond the call. [Verse 4] James Anderson took the blast. Oscar Austin shielded a Marine. Dickey covered a grenade, Jenkins did the same. McGinty rallied broken lines, Howard Lee refused to yield. Johnny Canley crossed through fire Again through Hue's killing fields. Different names, the same decision, Made before there was time to think: If somebody has to pay this price... Let it be me. [Music drops] [Memorial Roll — spoken] Ross. Pruitt. Cukela. Perkins. Pope. Stein. Sousley. Lucas. Wilson. Cole. Pendleton. Pittman. Vargas. Ingram. Barnum. Livingston. [Pause] And so many more. Different battles. Different generations. Same Eagle, Globe and Anchor. [Build] Then another war came calling. [Verse 5] Jason Dunham saw the grenade And covered it with helmet and chest. Two Marines walked from that fight Because he gave them everything left. Dakota Meyer went back again, Into fire to find his own. Kyle Carpenter took the blast So another could come home. [Pre-Chorus] No one wakes up knowing This will be the day Everything they've stood for Comes down to one choice they make. [Final Chorus] ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL! When somebody had to stand, They weren't fighting for a ribbon— They were fighting for the man On their left and on their right, For the Marine about to fall. Some came home, some gave it all... Above and beyond the call. Different wars. Different Marines. Above and beyond the call. [Outro — acoustic guitar] So when you see that ribbon With thirteen stars of white, Remember there was a moment When someone had to decide. Not for glory. Not for medals. They looked toward another Marine... And went beyond the call. [Pause] Semper Fidelis.
