Roses

Am I the kind of brother who would leave you

Standing on this lonesome railroad track?

That's what I told you on the way to America

I swore by our God I'd be coming back

When the roses are blooming

You can call me home

And I will stay there forever

My flesh and bone

I wanted to see you that Christmas

But I got a letter I was being sent to war

I packed up the Bible that you gave me

And I prayed for protection beneath the watch of the Lord

When the roses are blooming

You can call me home

And I will stay there forever

My flesh and bone

There is a garden

I can see it from my bed

Reminds me of Ireland

Flowering yellow and red

I've been trying to write you but I keep stopping

All I've got to say is war is hell

I keep thinking about the soldiers coming at me

Not the ones that shot me but the ones that I brought down myself

And I don't think Jesus ever heard my prayer

If there's a heaven, I ain't going there

When the roses are blooming

You can call me home

And I will stay there forever

My flesh and bone