A story of the aftermath of a soldier's service.
Jim Pharis
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A young man enlists in the military as a way to better his situation. It doesn't.
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His parents fought so much he lied to enlist
He figured war was better than home
He was lucky and he didn't die
like so many that he'd known
When his hitch was up he was at loose ends
He didn't belong anywhere
So he floated like a leaf from town to town
it was the start of the reckless years
The reckless years when he lost hope
The reckless years were full of booze and dope
Sometimes he forgot the things that he'd done
He was taking medicine and calling it fun
So to make ends meet he did catch as catch can
He was always good with his hands
Drifted from town to town
For a week there was a wedding band
Went to New Orleans he'd heard anything would go
It was fast living while taking life slow
Time passed in a tropical haze
Day into night, night into days
The reckless years when he lost hope
The reckless years were full of booze and dope
Sometimes he forgot the things that he'd done
He was taking medicine and calling it fun
He had this pain deep inside
It started in his back and went down his thigh
The doctor told him he was out of time
He'd had his last hurrah, spent his last dime
When he got the news he felt a relief
He didn't have any religious beliefs
Maybe Heaven, maybe Hell
No way to know, no way to tell
No more reckless years, when he lost hope
No more reckless years, full of booze and dope
Now he didn't have to get up every day
Now he'd lay down and stay where he lay
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