Short Memories - Graham Parker

They took their kids in their teenage years

Fitted them out with combat gear

Filled their hearts with mortal fear and sent them away

Some came home their pants in creases

Some came home in bits and pieces

The president made a lot of speeches and went fishing for the day

Cause they have short memories, they forget it all so quickly

They have short memories, now it’s gone

They have short memories, it disappears just like quicksilver

They have short memories, now it’s gone

My Daddy was in Nicosia, 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

You can’t stop a train or catch the rain drops

As they come falling

Sure there’ll be another war

Sure as sure the call-up will come calling

They took their kids in their teenage years

Gave them a God that they could fear

Said they could kill but not drink beer

And sent them away

Some came home in a body bag

Some came home wrapped in a flag

And on each toe there hung a tag saying there’ll be more someday

…now it’s gone, now it’s gone, now it’s gone