B7 E
One mornin' at breakfast, I said to my wife We been everywhere once and some places twice
As I had another helping of country ham
A
She said "We ain't never been to Vietnam
B7 E
"And there's a bunch of our boys over there." So we went to the Orient: Saigon
B7
Well we got a big welcome when we drove in
E
Through the gates of a place that they call Long Vinh We checked in and everything got kinda quiet
A
But a soldier boy said: "Just wait 'til tonight
B7 E
"Things get noisy. Things start happenin' "Big bad firecrackers."
B7
Well that night we did about four shows for the boys
E
And they were livin' it up with a whole lot of noise We did our last song for the night
A
Then we crawled into bed for some peace and quiet
B7 E
But things weren't peaceful. And things weren't quiet Things were scary
B7 E
Well for a few minutes June never said one word Then I thought at first that she hadn't heard
Then a shell exploded not two miles away
A B7
She sat up in bed and I heard her say: "What was that?" I said: "That was a shell, or a bomb."
E
She said: "I'm scared." I said "Me too."
B7 E
Well all night long that noise kept on And the sound would chill you right to the bone
A
The bullets and the bombs, and the shells Shook our bed every time one fell
B7 E
And it never let up; it was gonna get worse Before it got any better
B7
Well when the sun came up, the noise died down
E
We got a few minutes sleep, an' we were sleepin' sound
When a soldier knocked on our door and said:
A
"Last night they brought in seven dead, and 14 wounded."
B7 E
We were goin’ down to the base hospital, to see the boys "Yes!"
B7 E
So we went to the hospital ward by day And every night we were singin' away
Then the shells and the bombs was goin' again
A
And the helicopters brought in the wounded men
B7 E
Night after night; day after day Comin' and a goin'
B7 E
So we sadly sang for them our last song And reluctantly we said: "So long."
We did our best to let 'em know that we care
A
For every last one of 'em that's over there
B7 E
Whether we belong over there or not Somebody over here love's 'em, and needs 'em
B7 E
Well now that's about all that there is to tell About that little trip into livin' hell
And if I ever go back over there any more
A B7
I hope there's none of our boys there for me to sing for I hope that war is over with
E
And they all come back home To stay In peace