Lyrics

I had to stand in a line back in '69
They said, 'turn your head and cough'.
'Fore I could catch my breath
I caught the plane and left
Old Uncle Sam, he was a-shippin' me off

Yeah, I'm a long gone daddy
From the Asian rice paddies
I'm a stranger in the strangest land
I did a tour of duty
Made my own war movie
In the jungles of Viet Nam

Some guys bought the farm
Some lost legs and arms
Some guys was feelin' sorry for themselves
Some got as jumpy as a rabbit
With these nasty little habits
That turned them into someone else

Yeah, I'm a long gone daddy
From the Asian rice paddies
I'm a stranger in the strangest land
I did a tour of duty
Made my own war movie
In the jungles of Viet Nam

Dug out my old handbook
'Cause I wanted to look
Up the rules and the regs and find
The Army way how
You straighten yourself out
When you leave that old war behind

Yeah, I'm a long gone daddy
From the Asian rice paddies
I'm a stranger in the strangest land
I did a tour of duty
Made my own war movie
In the jungles of Viet Nam

Yeah they showed everyone
How to clean a gun
How to charge up the San Juan Hill
All the shit they give you
One thing they never tell you
Is how to live if you don't get killed

Yeah, I'm a long gone daddy
From the Asian rice paddies
I'm a stranger in the strangest land
I did a tour of duty
Made my own war movie
In the jungles of Viet Nam

At the age of 19
I was a war machine
I lived a nighmare
For the American Dream
Then, it was like I had rabies
They said I killed babies,
Listen goddammit
I's the old home team!

After I returned
I was rebuked and scorned
I laid my life on the line you see
MacNamra said it's wrong
We went to Viet Nam
Hey buddy
Thanks for telling' me

Yeah, I'm a long gone daddy
From the Asian rice paddies
I'm a stranger in the strangest land
I did a tour of duty
Made my own war movie
In the jungles of Viet Nam

Copyright 1996