(1992 by Graham Parker, submitted by Kirk Anderson) (kanderso@wheatonma.edu)
D                         A
They took their kids in their teenage years
D                   G
Fitted them out with combat gear,
D                        A             Bm         G
Filled their hearts with mortal fear and sent them away
D                    A
Some came home their pants in creases
D                G
Some came home in bits and pieces
D               A                          G             D
The president made a lot of speeches and went fishing for the day

D               A                D              G
'Cause they have short memories, they forget it all so quickly
D                 A               Bm  G
They have short memories, now it's gone
D                 A              D                     G
They have short memories, it disappears just like quicksilver
D                 A                 G  D
They have short memories, now it's gone

My Daddy was in Nicosea, Egypt and North Korea
He came back to a good career, shovelling coal
I was just the village lout I never got my finger out
I never wanted for anything still I broke and entered and stole

[bridge]
Em
You can't stop a train or catch the rain drops
D A G
As they come falling
Em
Sure there'll be another war
D    A
Sure as sure the call-up will come calling

D                         A
They took their kids in their teenage years
D                   G
Gave them a God that they could fear
D               A       Bm         G
Said they could kill but not drink beer
Bm        G
And sent them away
D                    A
Some came home in a body bag
D                G
Some came home wrapped in a flags
D                     A                           G        D
And on each toe there hung a tag saying there'll be more someday

[repeat first chorus]
G                Em             D
...now it's gone,  now it's gone, now it's gone