Dad's In the Middle

©2010 Garrett Clevenger

E G My Grandpa died in World War Two,

A E He left the world fighting nazis, true.

E G There were planes to catch and kills to make,

A E He learned to survive, there was a lot at stake.

D A Bm A But he was shot dead before my dad would know him.

G Bm E G Bm E and I turned out just like him, son. I don't want you to be like him.

Chorus:

E D His dad's in the middle of another man's war.

G A He's a little boy who loves Mom but wants more.

E D "When you commin' home, Dad?" "I don't know when,

G Bm E G Bm E "But we'll get together then, Son. You know we'll have a good time then."

E G My Dad served in Vietnam.

A E He only sent two letters. He didn't last long.

E G The very last line he wrote to us:

A E "When in war it's hard to trust."

D A Bm A Now I'm stuck in a Middle East war and

G Bm E G Bm E I don't like what seems in store. I want my family more.

{chorus}

E G My son's at home. He sent an email today.

A E He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come home and let's play."

E G I'm not watchin' him grow. He's a world away

A E It seems so surreal in this hellish place.

D A Bm A I didn't enlist to be the Man's pissant

G Bm E G Bm E I'm not gonna end like Dad, Son, or like my Grandad.

{chorus}

E G I've long been discharge, honorably.

A E I lost my arms from a "friendly."

E G "Dad I'm proud of you," my son would often say.

A E He enrolled on his 18th birthday.

D A Bm A I never cried so hard when I heard the news.

G Bm E G Bm E He's too precious to lose, Mom. He's too precious to lose.

E D His son's in the middle of another man's war.

G A He's an old man who loves Mom but wants more.

E D "When you commin' home, Son?" "I don't know when,

G Bm E G Bm E "But we'll get together then, Dad. You know we'll have a good time then."

E G My grandson was born just the other day.

A E He looks just like his dad did back in the day.

E G I escaped my old man's fate

A E Now I gotta hope grandson won't make the same mistake.

D A Bm A Every war has its casualties

G Bm E G Bm E and every dad his son needs. My son was like my dad it seems.

E D His son died in the middle of another man's war.

G A He's an old man who loves his grandson but wants more.

E D "When you commin' home, Gramps?" "He never will,

G Bm E G Bm E "But I'm here for you, still. For a while I'll be here for you."