[Intro]
(Radio static)
“Doc said the body’s breaking down…”
“…but the soldier in me ain’t done yet…”
⸻
[Verse 1]
Zero-five, boots by the bed
Pain in my bones, pressure in my head
Knees lock up when they hit the floor
Back so shot I can’t stand no more
Mirror got a stranger staring back
Still got the fade, still dressed in black
Still lace boots like the old me there
But pain got hands wrapped tight in the air
They say, “Maybe it’s time to get out”
Like that don’t fill my chest with doubt
Who am I when the rank ain’t mine?
When I fold this uniform one last time?
I gave this Army blood and years
Buried brothers, swallowed tears
Missed birthdays, holidays too
Now they saying my time is through
⸻
[Pre-Chorus]
And I’m terrified
Of the silence after final formation
Terrified
Of becoming just another name
What if this all I am?
What if the world won’t understand?
⸻
[Chorus]
So I fight through the pain again
Tape my body up and grin
Tell the medic, “Nah, I’m good”
Even when I know I shouldn’t
‘Cause hanging up this uniform
Feels like losing who I was before
And I don’t know if I can stand
Being anything but Army man
If this chapter really ends
Who the hell am I again?
So I pray these bones hold on
Just enough to carry on
⸻
[Verse 2]
Profiles stacking on the desk
Leadership asking, “What comes next?”
I laugh it off like I’m alright
Then break down crying late at night
Hands on the wheel in the parking lot
Thinking ‘bout everything Army taught
Convoy roads and muddy rain
Long nights carrying all that pain
I remember earning that unit patch
Trying not to collapse
Brothers calling me family
Now the future’s blurry to me
Doc says surgery might help a little
But nothing really fixes the middle
Years of wear from carrying weight
Trying to outrun an early grave
Then my son says, “Dad, you coming home?”
But home feels strange when Army gone
I’m scared he’ll see me lost someday
Like the fight inside finally slipped away
⸻
[Bridge]
I ain’t scared of war
Ain’t scared of scars
Ain’t scared of dying underneath the stars
But I’m scared of waking up
Without a mission in my chest
Scared of feeling useless
After giving this my best
They taught me how to fight
How to lead and bleed
But nobody teaches soldiers
How to leave
⸻
[Final Chorus]
So I fight through the pain again
Hide the limp and just pretend
Tell everybody I’m okay
While the fear eats me away
‘Cause hanging up this uniform
Feels like losing my whole world
Like every sacrifice I made
Gets folded with the camouflage away
And I know one day it comes
Every soldier’s setting sun
But I ain’t ready for goodbye
Not while there’s still fire inside
⸻
[Outro]
(Soft piano)
One last salute in fading light
Hands still shaking, holding tight
To the only life I’ve ever known
And the hardest battle
A soldier fights
Might be learning
How to let go…
(Radio static fades out)