LIAR'S WAR (LETTER HOME) (© John MacLean 2004; dedicated to Porter Rathmell and Johnny Painter) 
 Dear Sally I just came in from patrol
 And now it's quarter past four
 I hope you're sleeping safely tonight
 I don't sleep much anymore
 If I could I would reach out and hold you
 And whisper what's inside my head
 I'm sending good soldiers to their desert deaths
 And I'm wishing it were me instead

Three boys gave up their lives tonight
And a brave young girl makes it four
We're right back where we started a lifetime ago
In another liar's war

I'm thinking of my brother William
He died leading his men tough and true
And while it's now been more than 35 years
His passing tonight feels brand new
He died in a long ago Asian war
But now more have died on the way
Down a long bloody road that ends right here
But began back in Cam Ran Bay

Three boys gave up their lives tonight
And a brave young girl makes it four
We're right back where we started a lifetime ago
In another liar's war

You know best how proud I have been to serve
Thirty years in a tangible way
And to honor my brother's sacrifice
In that rice field an ocean away
But my proud serving days are over
There's no honor in burying men
For those who chose to start this war
But chose not to fight back then

Three boys gave up their lives tonight
And a brave young girl makes it four
We're right back where we started a lifetime ago
In another liar's war

Three boys lost their lives tonight
That young girl she died too
I miss you Sally so much tonight
And I wish I were there with you
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