Soldier's Lullaby
Echoes of War: A Soldier's Heartache in Melody
Lyrics
My name is Raymond but I go by Russ
Introducing himself as Raymond but commonly known as Russ.
Truth is, I don't remember too much
Expressing memory loss, possibly due to war experiences.
Did a six month stint in Kandahar
Indicating a six-month deployment in Kandahar, a war zone.
'Til a bullet shattered my left arm
Describing an injury where a bullet shattered his left arm.
And they packed me up and shipped me home
Recalling being sent home after the injury.
My high school sweetheart spent a year by my side
Mentioning a high school sweetheart supporting during recovery.
Just waiting patient for the bones to heal up right
Highlighting the patience required for bones to heal.
But the wires crossed inside my head
Referring to internal struggles with mental health.
Were a circuit that she couldn't mend
Describing emotional wounds that couldn't be repaired.
So she packed up and headed home
Noting the sweetheart leaving due to challenges.
It's ringing in my ears as her words hang in space
Remembering the words of survival despite challenges.
You're still alive by God's good grace
Expressing gratitude for being alive.
But I'm back bleeding in the sand
Acknowledging the harsh reality of returning to war.
Every time I close my eyes
Highlighting the haunting memories when closing eyes.
Living in this soldier's lullaby
Describing life as a soldier through a lullaby metaphor.
The VA doctor said I'm fixed good as new
Reflecting on medical assurances of recovery.
Looking at an x-ray, just his version of the truth
Criticizing the doctor's version of the truth about his condition.
But the Percocet he gave away
Describing the numbing effect of prescribed Percocet.
Sweet capsules made of pure escape
Highlighting the escape provided by the medication.
They wrap me up, bring me home
Referring to the return home under the influence of drugs.
It's ringing in my ears as his words hang in space
Recalling the doctor's words echoing in his mind.
You're still alive by God's good grace
Acknowledging survival but with inner struggles.
But I'm back bleeding in the sand
Reiterating the difficulty of coping with war memories.
Every time I close my eyes
Emphasizing the persistent impact on his dreams.
Living in this soldier's lullaby
Describing the ongoing experience of the soldier's lullaby.
The pharmacy cut me off as winter turned spring
Noting the termination of pharmacy support during spring.
I found a friend who said that he could keep the angels singing
Finding solace in a friend who offers a different escape.
A simple prick and I could fly
Describing the allure of a different, potentially harmful escape.
Beyond these fractures in my mind
Expressing a desire to rise above mental fractures.
Lift me up, send me home
Yearning to be lifted from the mental struggles.
It's ringing in my ears as I'm floating in space
Recalling words echoing during a transcendent experience.
You're still alive by God's good grace
Acknowledging survival but with continued inner turmoil.
But I'm back bleeding in the sand
Reiterating the difficulty of coping with war memories.
Every time I close my eyes
Emphasizing the persistent impact on his dreams.
Living in this soldier's lullaby
Describing the ongoing experience of the soldier's lullaby.
Sometimes I wonder if you'd love me better dead
Expressing a dark thought about receiving love in death.
Fallen in a combat zone, 'stead of left out here to beg
Contemplating a different fate in a combat zone.
I'd be draped beneath your sacred flag
Imagining a dignified end beneath a national flag.
Not frozen in my sleeping bag
Contrasting a solemn burial with the harsh reality of survival.
Wrap me up, send me home
Reiterating the desire to be brought home, symbolically or literally.
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