Lyrics

He said "Son what do you want to be?"
I said "Dad, what'll make you proud?
I want nothing more
I'll join the Marines
The Few and the Proud
I'll learn how to fight
And I'll go off to war"
Yellow footprints
Platoon thirty forty-nine
They cut off my hair but it looked alright
We marched and we sang
We all became friends
As we learned how to fight 

I didn't know it then, but
Thought this could be the end, but
I'm gonna teach you now, so
You don't have to know what I know 
Keep your head held high, and
Look people in the eye, and
You've got to stand up tall, so
You don't have to know what I know

I got hurt so bad
Ended my career
Sent me home 
My future so unclear
So I found a girl
And I settled down
Are you proud of me dad?
I want nothing more 
I lost my girl and my son
They even threw me in a cage
They stomped on my knees
They even spit in my face
I cried for my dad
I prayed for the end
But the beatings kept coming
Again and again 

I didn't know it then, but
Thought this could be the end, but
I'm gonna teach you now, so
You don't have to know what I know 
Keep your head held high, and
Look people in the eye, and
You've got to stand up tall, so
You don't have to know what I know 

I survived 5 years of hell
I was all alone 
I regained my freedom
No one understood
The darkness inside
Outside I smiled but inside I cried 
I built a new life
I found a good wife
And I became a dad
She's the light of my life
I see her future and it is so bright 
Now Dad looks me in the eyes
Says "Son, I understand
I'm so proud of you
You are a good man"

I didn't know it then, but
Thought this could be the end, but
I'm gonna teach you now, so
You don't have to know what I know 
Keep your head held high, and
Look people in the eye, and
You've got to stand up tall, so
You don't have to know what I know