The War at Home

THE WAR AT HOME

She's drowning in the day to day
he's missing her a world away
he can't come home; she thinks he bailed,
another letter comes by mail.

Dear John, she wrote and maybe shed a tear
I just can't do this alone without you here.
I've had help from your friend Drew
he does the things you used to do.

We took the boys to the old racetrack
he hauled the cars in your new truck
but last night he was there in a different way
so babe, i'm writing this letter to say

Dear John, it's over, dear John,

When you come home we won't be there,
Drew and I are taking the boys to the fair.
I'm sorry that this couldn't wait
'til you got home, that would be too late.

chorus
What's wrong with this world
when a mate isn't willing
to stay for the long haul?
The impact is chilling.
These men fight a battle with steel nerves and cunning,
while their women wage war they never saw coming.

A boy named Scott from Tennessee
had his girl's picture on his humvee
He took her everywhere he went
protecting her image from sand and wind.

But all Scott did was not enough,
life back home was awfully rough.
He told her things would soon be better
but then he got the poisoned letter.
Dear Scott, she wrote from her lover's home

I'm tired of your need to roam.
I didn't marry an Army man
I married a man with a farmer's tan.
I never thought you'd be called to fight
I just can't do this day and night, dear Scott.

There's Erik Smith from the midwest
When he was called up he did his best
to tell her how to get things done while
he was gone; his girl won't run.

but her letters came fewer and further between
as he lined up his target lit by moonbeam.
And at almost the same moment he pulled the trigger
she mailed her last letter; doesn't it figure?

Dear Erik, she wrote in familiar hand,
he read her goodbye in a foreign land.
He tore up the letter and sent the scraps flying
Oh well, was her logic, at least I'm not lying.
Dear Erik, it's over, dear Erik goodbye.