When Do I Get to Come Home

[Verse 1]
I signed up nine years ago. What else could I do?
A punk kid from the greatest land with everything to prove
I didn't want nobody to crush these dreams of yours and mine
I got a haircut and a uniform, "Just sign there on the dotted line"
Sign the dotted line

[Verse 2]
Shipped me off for the first time, Momma said "Son, come home soon"
Shipped me off the next time, my wife said "The baby will be due in June"
I came back for a third time with a second kid on the way
Now I'm still here in this goddamn sand and that boy turns one today

[Chorus]
How much cheaper does the gasoline have to be?
How many more people do I have to see set free?
I do whatever it takes, you see
Somebody please, please tell me
When do I get to come home?

[Verse 3]
Oh, the white guys send me over, the black guy said he'd send me home
Puppets talkin' on TV arguin' about right and wrong
I'm sure it's fun to talk about when your workday ends at five
But me and my boys' workday don't end unless we make it back home alive

[Chorus]
How much cheaper does the gasoline have to be?
How many more people do I have to see set free?
I do whatever it takes, you see
Somebody please, please tell me
When do I get to come home?
When do I get to come home?

[Verse 4]
Granddaddy fought in World War Two until the Germans all gave in
Daddy went to Vietnam, gave an arm to Ho Chi Minh
I got aches and pains in every bone I got, and I just take it on the chin
'Cause I'm back here for a fourth time, wonder what it's gonna take to win

[Chorus]
How much cheaper does the gasoline have to be?
How many more people do I have to see set free?
I do whatever it takes, you see
Somebody please, won't you please tell me
When do I get to come home?
When do I get to come home?