(Steve Earl)

I'm an American, boys, and I've come a long way,

Born and bred in the USA

So listen up close, I've got something to say

Boys, I'm buying this round

Well it took a little while, but we're in this fight

And we ain't going home 'til we've done what's right

We're gonna drink Camden Town dry tonight,

If I have to spend my last pound



When I first got to London it was pourin' down rain

Met a little girl in the field canteen

Painted her name on the nose of my plane

Six more missions, I'm gone

Well I asked if I could stay and she said that I might

Then the warden came around yelling "Turn out the lights"

Death rainin' out of the London night

We made love 'til dawn



[Chorus:]

But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home

With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan

They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone

When Johnny comes marching home



My P-47 is a pretty good ship

And she took a round comin' cross the channel last trip

I was thinkin' 'bout my baby and letting her rip

Always got me through so far

Well they can ship me all over this great big world

But I'll never find nothing like my North End girl

I'm taking her home with me one day, sir

Soon as we win this war



[Chorus]



Now my grandaddy sang this song

Told me about London when the Blitz was on

How he married grandma and brought her back home

A hero thoughout his land

Now I'm standing on a runway in San Diego

A couple Purple Hearts and I move a little slow

There's nobody here, maybe nobody knows

About a place called Vietnam



[Chorus]