| Listening I�ve heard stories Descriptive stories Of life at war But ive never seen it I�ve heard of surgeons standing over the bodies their operating on Trying to keep warm in freezing temperatures They said you could see the steam rising from the wounds as they cut into the soldiers I�ve heard of buddies holding their best friends Lives in their hands watching the life slip From their eyes I�ve heard of enemy ambushes Where every man is killed Every man, but one I�ve heard of guys sending letters home to the parents of their buddies Telling them of their horrid loss I�ve heard of their courage to rush the enemy when all is lost They claim its stupidity yet they come out victorious I�ve heard of first kills of worst kills Of last kills I sit at the feet of these heroes Listening intently to the stories they�ve lived I�ve never seen war But I have seen the pain in their eyes As they remember those they have lost I never know what to say to them So I say the words I feel Thank you Thank you for risking your life For the ideals of American freedom |