usadeepsouth
by Jerry Calow
Note to Clyde Boswell and all Veterans:
I want to thank you for what you and many others have given of yourself to this country. I wrote this song (and others) so that all of our Veterans don't go unsung for their sacrifices. I think the words speak for themselves. And I hope one day soon the whole country will hear these words and understand that far too many things are taken for granted and that there is always a price to be paid.
A Tribute To Veterans In Vietnam, Korea and World Wars past Our soldiers fought bravely so freedom would last Conditions were not always best they could be Fighting a foe they could not always see From mountain highs to valley lows From jungle drops to desert patrols Our sinewy youth were sent overseas Far from their families and far from their dreams They never wrote letters of hardships, despair Only of love, yearning that one day soon They would come home, they would resume And carry on with the rest of their lives The P.O.W.’s stood steadfast Against the indignities and cruelties of war They could not have lasted as long as they did If they had relinquished their hope that some day They would come home, they would resume And carry on with the rest of their lives Medics, nurses, and chaplains alike Did what they needed to bring back life They served our Forces from day into night Not questioning if they would survive They mended bones and bodies too They soothed the spirits of dying souls And for those M.I.A.’s who were left behind We echo this message across the seas We will search for as long as it takes You’re not forgotten, and will always be In our hearts, in our prayers In our minds for all time A moment of silence, a moment of summons Is their deliverance of body and soul To a sacred place that we all know Deep in the shrines of our soul In our hearts, in our prayers In our minds for all time INTERLUDE: GOLD STAR MOTHERS GRIEVE: ENDLESSLY, ENDLESSLY, ENDLESSLY . . . These immortal soldiers whose bravery abounds They’re our heroes, our daughters and sons They enlisted for the duty at hand To serve the cause of country and land They had honor, they had valor They found glory -- that changed them forever Standing tall and proud, they'll be A country behind them in a solemn sea So let the flags of freedom fly Unfurled in their majesty high In the sun, in the rain In the winds across this land Years of tears have brought us here Gathering around to hear this sound So let the flags of freedom fly Unfurled in their majesty high In the sun, in the rain In the winds across this land In the sun, in the rain In the winds across this land |
It would be an honor for me if you publish my lyrics at USADEEPSOUTH, because once on paper these lyrics take on their own life/purpose -- one, I hope, of healing and perpetual remembrance of those who have served our country so faithfully and completely.
I really don't have a lot to say about myself except that 30 some years ago I was up to be drafted for the war in Vietnam, as were many other young men, but I drew a high draft lottery number and didn't have to go. Today however as a husband and the father of three grown children, I feel I have a debt to pay for those who did go -- and so I honor them to the best of my ability as a late-coming songwriter who was awakened by the 9/11 attack on our nation. I pray the lyrics and musical rendition (to follow in the near future) can do some good, even if the song only touches one soul. Then I am blessed.
Here are two more moving stories about the Vietnam War:
The Healing: Visiting the Vietnam Memorial by Clyde Boswell
Kathy Boswell Nichols - Donut Dolly: Vietnam tapes bring back war memories by Beth Boswell Jacks
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Thanks!
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