A handsome soldier the girls thought brave
The world at my feet threw garlands of flowers
And cheered me along from bright shining towers
My uniform was new, my bayonet was sharp
I could barely hear the heavenly harp
Or the angelic weeping somewhere far behind
A reminder way down in the back of my mind
And corpses gone rotten
In that place where black lips and blue sky meet
Now, I remember how the reaper kissed the lips of my rival
And turned to touch my forehead with the curse of survival
Now, I sit by the roadside and beg for my dinner
And ask myself daily, just who was the winner?
Now, my face is bearded and my uniform is tattered
And young girls hurry by as if I never really mattered
No more cheers do I hear in these ragged old ears
And there's no fine young bravery to cover my fears
While I wait for a dollar, or deliverance, or death
To return with a kiss that will take my last breath
And finally free me from this curse of survival
To reunite me with my long departed--dear--rival
In that place where black lips and blue sky meet
