One Step Forward
A Soldier's Heart: Finding Strength in Letters Across Miles
Lyrics
I'm sending you these letters
Expressing the act of sending written correspondence
Across miles and miles of water
Over a great distance of water, emphasizing separation
Tell Stevie that I saw his friend
Passing a message about Stevie's friend
And the mother that I love her
Conveying love to a mother
Well, I know I haven't been here long
Acknowledging a short time spent in a place
And I know it seems much longer
Feeling like the time spent has been longer
But every letter you write back
Each response received increases personal resilience
Makes me a little stronger
Correspondence provides emotional strength
Everybody here has been as many years as me
Everyone else has been in the same place for years
But only now they realize what they are here to see
Others now understand what they're meant to see
So I'll take my pen and I write you a note
Deciding to communicate by writing
And send it off in a letter
Sending thoughts in a letter
And we'll hope that writing my troubles down
Hoping that expressing troubles will alleviate them
Will make me feel better
Believing that writing may improve emotional state
One step forward and one step left
Progressing slowly, step by step
I raise my gun and I take my aim
Preparing to use a weapon, possibly metaphorical
I'm just a pawn in the government's game
Feeling like a mere piece in a larger political game
The first day I was posted
Beginning of a significant period of time
Was the longest I have known
Longest duration experienced so far
I can't believe the bitterness
Shock at the extent of bitterness within people
The human heart can show
Surprise at the depth of hatred
The hatred of another is a blindness in their eyes
Recognizing the blindness caused by hatred
All I do is stand between them
Acting as a mediator or barrier between conflicting sides
Wondering why
Questioning the reasons behind the conflict
One step forward and one step left
Continuing slow progress, one step at a time
I raise my gun and I take my aim
Preparing to use a weapon, possibly metaphorical
I'm just a pawn in the government's game
Sense of being manipulated or used by higher powers
Little boy stands with stones in hand
Describing a child ready to throw stones
And cold eyes of steel
Child with a determined and hardened gaze
I wish I could throw my riffle down
Desire to express feelings and abandon conflict
And tell them how I feel
Wishing to communicate personal sentiments
Well, I know I haven't been here long
Reflecting on the short time spent in the situation
And I know it seems much longer
Feeling like the experience has been prolonged
But every letter you post to me
Received letters provide emotional strength
Makes me a little stronger, stronger
Each communication contributes to personal resilience
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