I Know This Word

I Know This Word is about a child in the Vietnam War.  

I know this word called blood-- I know the thickened red

I know from where it comes-- I’ve seen it in the bled

I know this word called sorrow-- I’ve seen it in the dead

I know this world called gunshot-- I’ve seen it in the head

I know this word called gravestone-- I’ve seen it in the night

I know this word called bloodshed-- I’ve seen it in the fight

I know this word called losing-- I’ve seen it in her eyes

I know this word called bombing-- I’ve seen it in the skies

I know this word called hatred-- I’ve seen it clear as day

I know this word called killing-- I’ve seen it in the slain

I know this word called humanity-- I’ve seen it fade away

I know this word called despair-- I’ve seen it in the pain

I learned these words when we called to arms those who were just boys

When bombing was a game to end when cities were destroyed

And no one cared much anyways when fathers were deployed

And my father himself was captured and in sadness, mother died

And all that I am left with are two stars to know them by

My sorrow took me to a place where I couldn’t see the sky

And it was just a waste of strength to release my tears and cry

And the war that once controlled me and the death that showed its teeth

Could never know all that I knew of the Devil underneath

They’d never know the depth of all the words I learned so well

And I know this word called Napalm-- It’s second next to Hell