What Are We Dying For

What Are We Dying For
The sergeant read the orders and we loaded up at five,
and nobody asked the question that was keeping us alive,
what are we dying for, what piece of what idea,
what sentence in what policy is worth the body here.

The colonel had a briefing and the colonel had a cause,
the colonel had a picture of the flag and the applause,
but the picture does not keep you warm at minus ten degrees,
and the flag does not hold pressure when a man is on his knees.

What are we dying for, what are we dying for,
give me something I can hold when the rounds come through the door,
what are we dying for, is it freedom, is it right,
is it oil in the pipeline or is somebody picking a fight,
what are we dying for, what are we dying for,
the question that we carry and we never ask out loud,
what are we dying for, what are we dying for.

I have seen enough of what the reasons cost in the field,
I have held enough of what the reasons left that could not heal,
and I believe that some things are worth standing up to keep,
I just want to know the thing I am standing up to keep.

The veteran at the bar does not ask anymore,
he has moved through understanding to a place beyond the score,
he says you do it for the fellow on your left and on your right,
that is what are we dying for when you are in the fight.