Tom Flannery Footprints In The Snow
Lights were still on I really don't know whyI was
sleeping when they came to say my boy had died
IED in Ramadi took our breath away
it was an hour before I could think of something to say
I knew what they wanted before the curtain snapped back
brand new snow mixed with shoes so black
death in perfect step cutting across the lawn
tell me how many more hours until the dawn
Ever since that night I sleep in the day
I won't close my eyes to keep the wolves at bay
who am I to go living the same old way
ever since that night I sleep in the day
'If I don't come back the Marines will come'
those are the words that came from my son
he said 'em with that twinkle in his eye
then he held me close and said goodbye
For Marines nobody gets left behind
but that doesn't mean that a Mother's resigned
to clutch this flag in my hands
and sprinkle away your grains of sand
Ever since that night I sleep in the day
I won't close my eyes to keep the wolves at bay
who am I to go living the same old way
ever since that night I sleep in the day
Everybody ends up fighting a war
and wondering what others are fighting for
some are called and do not go
and leave to others the footprints in the snow