Stand to attention

Sick from the smell of the fire
I disintegrated into an urn full of life
Full of passion of the wrong kind
And my only option was fight

"Go, you will march" I was told
I was laden with a gun
And I knew of a plan
And I knew my point of contact
And empty handed I can't come back

And though I knew my mind was consumed
I had no where I could run to
So I'd hide behind enemy lines
And though I was free to leave whenever
But I knew that if I endeavored
Through the fences I'd be caught defenseless

They are only human
Like you and I
So who are they to tell us who to be?
And why do we follow them
And cry when we stand to attention?

I should have screamed
Should have clawed
Had I not been in the midst
Of a fight, of a war?
Had I not been in the searchlight?
Had the smog not blurred my eyesight?

And I had a bullet and had a gun
But victimized, my courage gone
And had I made it out the other side
I wouldn't have a place to hide

They are only human
Like you and I
So who are they to tell us who to be?
And why do we follow them
And cry when we stand to attention?

And I shot and I hit
And things I can't live with
Are pushing me harder to grow
But had I not been through this
I wouldn't be witness to a strength
Many can't claim to know

They are only human
Like you and I
So who are they to tell us who to be?
And why, why, why do we follow them
And cry when we stand to attention?