I am a courier 
Crawling in the dirt 
Toward the front line 
As the crow flies 
A note stashed in my shirt 
From the Prince of Wales 
Far above the field 
With his marshalls 
And their chain-mail 
Their banners taut and high 

I did not ask him what the note said 
He did not offer to explain 
It’s not my job to ask the questions 
I’m just the courier 

A flare shot leaves a scar 
Burning in the dark 
On my forearms 
Toward the front line 
Then another fifty yards 
Crouching in the trench 
Clutching bayonettes 
A hundred men 
All knee-to-chest 
A hundred marionettes 

I am the string pulled by the sure hand 
Animating what was still 
I am invisible and faithful 
I am a courier 

The Captain breaks the seal 
And quickly reads the note 
On your feet boys 
Make you peace boys 
Pass those letters down 
To this courier 
Guardian of the word 
Hand him all you’ve seen 
Hand him all you’ve heard 
Hand him all your pearls 

And he’ll go back to where he came from 
He will deliver each by hand 
He takes this as a point of honor 
To be a courier