You Were Born to Be in Battle

It's the spring of your time

And the time has come

The open road will seize you

Won't you roll to a stop

Won't you gaze at the drop

And the awful miles before you?

Take care where you step

Don't you know that it stifled

The life above you strangle

Stay right if you can

Oh, you poor old man

You were born to be in battle

In the summer you'll find

That you rolled us aside

A tangled man-made thicket

Take care you don't lean

With your toes in a string

That sweeps away the river

Survey all you see

'Cause there's still time to leave

The prior hand of ramble

Stay right if you can

Oh, you poor old man

You were born to be in battle

In the fall of your time

You're astounded to find

So much is now behind you

With tears of your own

You'll be scared 'fore you know

Just walk the dark and

Tell them what I told you

In days of your youth

What's well within the travel

Stay right if you can

Oh, you poor old man

You were born to be in battle

In the winter of life

You'll be asked for your life

Lay down, all forts surrender

And all that is you

That is precious and true

As your full price, you'll tender

And I will look on

But I long for you, son

Don't Stay right if you can

Oh, you poor old man

You were born to be in battle