Travellin Soldier

Two days past eighteen
He was waitin' for the bus in his army greens
Sat down in a booth, in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy but she give him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talkin' to me
I'm feelin' a little low
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go
So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you

I cried never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him, they told her
Waitin' for the love of the travellin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter says
My soldier's comin' home

The letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
He told her of his heart - It might be love
And all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it's gettin' kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while

One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A man said
Folks would you bow your head for the list of local Vietnam dead
Cryin' all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read and nobody really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair