Yellow Ribbons

Yellow Ribbons
The bumper sticker says support the troops with a yellow ribbon shape,
I served two tours so maybe I can weigh into the tape,
the ribbon is a sentiment and sentiments are fine,
but support might mean some other things besides the sign.

Support the troops means fund the VA when they come back broken,
support the troops means believe them when they say the thing unspoken,
support the troops means do not send them for the wrong reason twice,
support the troops means count the cost and pay the honest price.

Yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons,
they look good on the back of a truck going sixty-five,
yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons,
they do not keep a single soldier alive,
yellow ribbons say I thought about you for the seconds it took to stick,
yellow ribbons will not help a veteran through the sick,
yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons,
if you mean it do the work, if you do not, let it slip.

I do not want your yellow ribbon and I do not want your thanks,
I want you to vote for healthcare and I want you to fill the ranks
of citizens who pay attention to where the soldiers go,
and whether the cause is worthy of the blood below.

Yellow ribbon, stick it on, I understand the thought,
but the thought is not the action and the action is what ought
to follow from the sentiment, the policy, the choice,
yellow ribbons do not vote and do not carry a voice.

Yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons,
they look good on the back of a truck going sixty-five,
yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons,
they do not keep a single soldier alive,
yellow ribbons say I thought about you for the seconds it took to stick,
yellow ribbons will not help a veteran through the sick,
yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons,
if you mean it do the work, if you do not, let it slip.