He sleeps in his truck by the edge of town Got a scar on his face and a flag turned brown Used to wear stripes, now he paint handles Folks drive by like he's some kind of scandal Says he fought for a cause they all forgot Now he drinks to the silence and the voices he's got A preacher rolls past, won't meet his eyes But he still salutes when that eagle flies God forbid you ever had to bleed Or lose it all for what you believe Maybe then you'd drop that pride And know what it's like to barely survive She was seventeen, raising a trail of shade Daddy left scars and mama just prayed She met some boy with a cross on his chest But when things got tough he ran like the rest Now she's standing in line at the county door Trying to hide the bruise and the name they swore Church folks whisper, say she's trash But they don't see her crying in the bath God forbid you ever had to choose Between your future and what you lose Maybe then you'd hold her tight And know what it's like to fight for a lie He robbed that bank off Route 18 Wore a mask made from an old marine Told the clerk, I'm sorry, I just need time But the judge don't care what breaks a mind Three jobs gone, two mouths to feed And rent don't wait when your soul's in need The papers call him just another thug But his kid still sleeps with this old work gloves God forbid you ever had to call To feed your blood and risk it all Maybe then you'd drop that spike And know what it's like to live that fight