Lyrics Short Memories - Graham Parker

Short Memories

They took their kids in their teenage years
Fitted them out with combat gear
Filled their hearts with mortal fear and sent them away
Some came home their pants in creases
Some came home in bits and pieces
The president made a lot of speeches and went fishing for the day
Cause they have short memories, they forget it all so quickly
They have short memories, now it’s gone
They have short memories, it disappears just like quicksilver
They have short memories, now it’s gone
My Daddy was in Nicosia, Egypt and North Korea
He came back to a good career, shovelling coal
I was just the village lout I never got my finger out
I never wanted for anything still I broke and entered and stole
You can’t stop a train or catch the rain drops
As they come falling
Sure there’ll be another war
Sure as sure the call-up will come calling
They took their kids in their teenage years
Gave them a God that they could fear
Said they could kill but not drink beer
And sent them away
Some came home in a body bag
Some came home wrapped in a flag
And on each toe there hung a tag saying there’ll be more someday
…now it’s gone, now it’s gone, now it’s gone