Semper Fi
Legacy of Valor: A Marine's Journey Through War and Peace
Lyrics
My father met Eleanor Roosevelt
My father had an encounter with Eleanor Roosevelt
In 1945
During the year 1945
The war at last was over then
The war had concluded, and they both survived
And they were still alive
Emphasizing their survival after the war
Her husband was the President
Eleanor Roosevelt's husband was the President
Till he ran out of time
Until his term ended
Her Franklin D. was history
Franklin D. Roosevelt became a historical figure
And they'd put him on the dime
Referencing his image on the dime coin
My father joined the leathernecks
My father joined the Marines to avoid working in mines
To stay out of the mines
During a time of war
The new marine was just fifteen
The narrator's father enlisted at a young age in 1939
In 1939
Reference to the narrator's father as a "new marine"
There were medals and malaria
Describing the challenges of war, including medals and malaria
The south pacific war
Specifically in the South Pacific
Through jungles that were paradise
Once paradisiacal jungles transformed by war
And were paradise no more
Into a place no longer resembling paradise
Soldiers fight and soldiers die
Reflection on the harsh realities of war
Soldiers live to wonder why
Questioning the purpose and justification of war
Semper fi fe fo fum
Using "Semper Fi fe fo fum" as a play on words
Look out peacetime here we come
Anticipating the challenges of peacetime
Some of the men who did survive
Not all survivors were fortunate in the aftermath
Were not the lucky ones
Highlighting the irony that some who survive may not consider themselves lucky
War is only good for those
War benefits those who produce and sell weapons
Who make and sell the guns
A critical view of the war industry
My father lay recovering
The narrator's father is recovering from physical and emotional wounds
The hurt was all inside
The injuries are internal and not visible
Sometimes the wounds that never heal
Some wounds, though unseen, are the most challenging to cope with
Are easiest to hide
Addressing the difficulty of concealing emotional scars
When Eleanor came bearing gifts
Eleanor Roosevelt visits San Francisco Bay, bringing gifts
To San Francisco Bay
One of the gifts is a blanket for the narrator's father
She gave my dad a blanket
Given during his time in the hospital
In the hospital that day
Emphasizing the personal connection to Eleanor Roosevelt
That blanket meant a lot to him
The blanket holds significant meaning for the narrator's father
My mother has it still
It remains with the narrator's mother as a cherished item
Some forget the kindnesses
Reflecting on the lasting impact of acts of kindness
That others never will
Contrasting the tendency of some to forget such acts
Soldiers fight and soldiers die
Reiteration of the harsh realities of war
Soldiers live to wonder why
Questioning the purpose and justification of war once again
Semper fi fe fo fum
Repeating the playful use of "Semper Fi fe fo fum"
Look out peacetime here we come
Awareness of challenges in the upcoming peacetime
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