On the road to Basra stood young Lieutenant Jimmy Bly

Detailed to go through the clothes of the soldiers who died

At night in dreams he sees their souls rise

Like dark geese into the Oklahoma skies



Well this is a prayer for the souls of the departed

Those who've gone and left their babies brokenhearted

This is a prayer for the souls of the departed



Now Raphael Rodriguez was just seven years old

Shot down in a schoolyard by some East Compton Cholos

His mama cried "My beautiful boy is dead"

In the hills the self-made men just sighed and shook their heads



This is a prayer for the souls of the departed

Those who've gone and left their babies brokenhearted

Young lives over before they got started

This is a prayer for the souls of the departed



Tonight as I tuck my own son in bed

All I can think of is what if it would've been him instead

I want to build me a wall so high nothing can burn it down

Right here on my own piece of dirty ground



Now I ply my trade in the land of king dollar

Where you get paid and your silence passes as honor

And all the hatred and dirty little lies

Been written off the books and into decent men's eyes