[Chorus]

He's just a drunk

An old salty dog

Stagger, you drink and then fall

Unaware that your life is held up against the wall

Aching, just dying inside

Still you cling on tight to your obstinate pride


I knew a man at the end of the bar

Wore a look of erosion, some old battle scars

Told many stories, none of them bright

If you bought him liberations, he spun them all night

Started out in Normandy, moved right onto France

The battle of Berlin and more veteran partance

At the end this generation, not like the last

Kids today need to learn from the past


[Chorus]


Getting to loud barkeeper gives the hook

All the patrons laugh so hard the dive nearly shook

Into the alley he goes furious and irate

Expletives and threats babbled in hate

Finally he collapses down to the asphalt

Battered mug and lacerations, it's his fault

Bystanders tap numbers for the ambulance call

Salty dog going for an E.R. haul


[Chorus]


Salt you stagger away and then fall

Continuously stubborn and defiant through it all

Vet you'll rattle, bemoan and berate

People not backing ideals out of date


What he doesn't relize

Is he's the enemy of him

What he can't see

Is he's stuck in yesterday


Battle EMT's, they try to help him

Inside self imposed defiance, he'd rather swim

Inside of him, a crazy death wish


[Chorus]


I knew a man at the end of the bar

With a VFW jacket and some old battle scars

Did you hear the news?

Stagger's wish came true