there was a decorated general with

a heart of gold, that likened him to

all the stories he told

of past battles, won and lost, and

legends of old a seasoned veteran in

his own time



on the battlefield, he gained

respectable fame with many metals

of bravery and stripes to his name

he grew a beard as soon as he could

to cover the scars on his face

and always urged his men on



but on the eve of a great battle

with the infantry in dream

the old general tossed in his sleep

and wrestled with its meaning

he awoke from the night

just to tell what he had seen

and walked slowly out of his tent



all the men held tall with their

chests in the air, with courage in

their blood and a fire in their stare

it was a gray morning and they all

wondered how they would fare

till the old general told them to go home

He said

I have seen the others

and I have discovered

that this fight is not worth fighting

and I've seen their mothers

and I will no other

to follow me where I'm going

SO,

take a shower and shine your shoes

you got no time to lose

you are young men you must be living

take a shower and shine your shoes

you got no time to lose

you are young men you must be living

go now you are forgiven



yeah



but the men stood fast with their

guns on their shoulders not knowing

what to do with the contradicting orders

the general said he would do his own

duty but he would extend it no further

the men could go as they pleased



not a man moved, their eyes gazed

straight ahead till one by one they

stepped back and not a word was said

and the old general was left with his

own words echoing in his head

he then prepared to fight



chorus



go now you are forgiven