He said, "Son, have you seen the world?
Well, what would you say if I said that you could?
Just carry this gun, you'll even get paid"
I said, "That sounds pretty good"
Black leather boots, spit shined so bright
They cut off my hair but it looks alright
We marched and we sang
We all became friends as we learned how to fight
A hero of war, yeah that's what I'll be
And when I come home they'll be damn proud of me
I'll carry this flag to the grave if I must
'Cause it's flag that I love and a flag that I trust
I kicked in the door, I yelled my commands
The children they cried but I got my man
We took him away, a bag over his face
From his family and his friends
They took off his clothes, they pissed in his hands
I told them to stop but then I joined in
We beat him with guns and batons
Not just once but again and again
A hero of war, yeah that's what I'll be
And when I come home they'll be damn proud of me
I'll carry this flag to the grave if I must
'Cause it's flag that I love and a flag that I trust
She walked through bullets and haze
I asked her to stop, I begged her to stay
But she pressed on
So I lifted my gun and I fired away
And the shells jumped through the smoke
And into the sand that the blood now had soaked
She collapsed with a flag in her hand
A flag white as snow
A hero of war is that what they see
Just medals and scars, so damn proud of me
And I brought home that flag, now it gathers dust
But it's a flag that I love, it's the only flag I trust
He said, "Son, have you seen the world?
Well, what would you say if I said that you could?"
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Howdyfolks
This song gave me a boner.
LisaSimpson
Brilliant song!
Mickee D
dude you have no idea how douchy you sound. this song is based on real stories told by people in the military. its not all lollipops and rainbows over there you know. they see and do pretty gruesome stuff that haunts them for the rest of their lives. the military makes it look all cool and stuff to get you to join and then after you sign for that second tour its over-- you're in and you cant get out. i know this b/c i know people in the military that want out. one of my friends even tried to get kicked out. i support and respect the military for fighting so i dont have to but truth be told its just as corrupted as the government now.
ImonarchI
He has gone in army to fight an enemy, to be a hero, to #!@%*# and die for his country, if there wil be need, but the only thing that he can do is shooting in women and beating unarmed prisoners. It is modern warfare. Just no place for any heroic deeds. And he has returned home with that flag, for wich he had done so much #!@%*#, and he #!@%*# loves it, cause he don`t want to recognize that all that he has done were done for nothing.
Dong-Hee22507
U do know that he brought home the womans flag right? how old are u 9?
rebel28
Heartbreaking. All you young people out there if there was a draft this is what you would become "A Hero of War" for the cowards who GOVERN us and all they do is LIE. They do not give a DAMN about you. Thank you Rise Against for going against the grain....your words hurt but doesn't the truth always HURT.
JbH iS a BeAsT
this is a great song but really sad too....
BoudiccaAndrasta
I get that part of the song. Actually the band Live does a much better song in that sense called "Home" on songs from Back mountain. What I didn't like about THIS song was the fact that they don't seem to keen on mentioning the other side in any kind of true light. We aren't only over there shooting innocents, and as horrible as it may be to understand I think that there are a lot of soldiers that support what is happening over there. Least the ones I have met and know do. To be honest, Rise Against went to "Hippy" on this album and I am a firm believer in the NOFX motto " Never trust a Hippy!"
WillowTree
I think you dont get it right. I mean, I only can interpretate, like you, but in my opinion, they never said, that they are no heroes... I think they only want to make people open their eyes in every way what war really is...That its not only something to be proud of to be a hero of war, that that people have to fight with their guilty conscience, the things that they done and I beliebe nobody told than before what sacrifice this would be. Sure they are some kind of heros, because they fight for their land and security and freedom (Hate saying fight for freedom), but they do so because someone have to...It wouldnt be a thing to be proud of if everyone would see that war is nothing but stupid...So they do say on the one hand that war is bad, and that ****ing people is nothing to be proud of, that its stupid to go to war for patriotism, but they never seemed to me like people that dont understand why people habe to go to war... But they should know...They all should know whats this war thing is about. That they will be no heros for themself...That they will feel not well when they come home... Only because a person makes a sacrifice for things he believe in, for other people, for his land, doesnt mean that this is right... So you do have your hero because he makes this sacrifice, but you not have a hero for ****ing people, thinking dying for his flagg is dignity and honor, something to be proud of.... I think in the song are at least to statements...one for the individuel and one for the society... I geht confused by this critisism, because the song is only telling the truth... (by the way, Im a bit determined in expressing my opinion clearly, because my english is not the best...So sorry for the language...)
BoudiccaAndrasta
I Love Rise Against. I loved every album up until this one. This song is offensive. I am sorry but protest songs like these are sung from the mouths of people that have never went to war. I still love this band and I respect that they are willing to sing about what they believe in but I can't respect this song. The people on the other side don't play fair. They aren't all innocent civilians waving white flags. These are the same people that strap bombs to children knowing our soldiers won't shoot. They strip women of their rights and have no issue ****ing anything or one in the name of a god who they claim is right. What do you think they do when they catch one of us? We have to follow the Geneva Convention on the rules of warfare. Do you think that the same rules apply when they are torturing us? Women and Children are murdered or brutalized by the men in the Taliban run country of Afghanistan. Do you know how many of them are ****ed by family members? That it is legal there to **** a woman that has been raped because most times she will not be able to speak out against her attacker. Everyone here loves the freedom that comes from being able to do the simplest of things like speak their minds. But are you fully aware how much these men and women have to give up to maintain it? They are Heroes. Each one of them. War is never Pretty, or easy or wanted but there are better people to express it then artists who never have or ever will be the ones that have to make the choice. "Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." -Ned Dolan People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - George Orwell.
ASDF333
Can't believe u still don't get it! Have u forgot what they told u? the lies they fed u… that so called WMD justified an invasion…! Bush and his side kicks should be hung from a tree for that… for their lies and the suffering caused. When the bluff was called they told u the mission was democracy. What gives u the right to impose your way of living on another people with guns? Who appointed u to be the world police? The war was wrong from day 1 – a war where the US is the aggressor. The world new it all along… Your leaders are ultimately to blame… but u should all be ashamed for your ignorance and patriotic blindfold.
Blaze_Firestormer
Ian wrote this song after watching a do****entary titled "The Ground Truth." I loved this song when I first heard it, but after watching the film I have an even bigger appreciation for it. I recommend watching it and then listening to this song again. You'll see that some of the lyrics are straight from stories that the soldiers tell...
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