The General

There was a decorated general with
A heart of gold
That likened him with all the stories he told
Of past battles
Won and lost and legends of old
A seasoned veteran in his own time

But on the battlefield
He gained respectable fame
With many metals of bravery and
Stripes to his name
He grew a beard as soon as he could
To cover the scars on his face
And always urged his men on

But on the eve of great battle
With the infantry in dream
The old general tossed in his
Sleep and he was amazed
He awoke from the night just to
Tell what he had seen
And walked slowly out of his tent
All the men held tall with
Their chests in the air
With the courage in their blood and
A fire in their stare
It was a gray morning and they
All wondered how they would fare
Till the old general told them to go home

He said, "I have seen the others
And I have discovered that this
Fight is not worth fighting, oh
And I've seen their mothers
And I will no other to
Follow me where I'm going

So, so take a shower and shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You're young men, you must be living, yeah
Take a shower and shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You're young men, you must be living
Go now, you are forgiven

But the men stood fast with
Their guns on their shoulders
Not knowing what to do
With the contradicting orders
The old general told he would do his own
Duty but he would extend it no further
You can go as you pleased

Not a man moved
Their eyes gazed straight ahead
Till one by one
They stepped back and not a word was said
And the old general was left with his
Own words echoing in his head
He then prepared to fight

Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven, go
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven, go
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you gotta, you gotta
You gotta, you gotta, you gotta yeah yeah