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Final Transmission Lyrics
He had just turned nineteen yesterday,
Wanted to be a school teacher someday,
Came from a small and modest town,
Had never before traveled abroad.
He signed on the promise of a college fund,
Pop and Mom begged him to stay at home,
The last time they saw him was at an airport,
He hugged his distraught mother a final time.
He went abroad to serve when he was only nineteen,
Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams.
He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes,
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on T.V. names are taken,
Mother, Mother,
My final transmission.
Paris Island was plain hell on earth,
Got gunny yelling at him, "better prove your worth,"
Moved on to Baghdad about six months on,
Caught an IED today, now he is gone.
He went abroad to serve when he was only nineteen,
Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams.
He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes,
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on T.V. names are taken,
Mother, Mother,
My final transmission.
Dad and Mom I am your only loving son,
Hid a written final transmission under my helmet,
Love you both in heart and mind,
A better set of parents no boy could ever find,
Weep for me and say thy prayers,
Remember me through all your years,
Only got to serve for six months on and,
If you're reading this I have passed and gone.
So I harbor a final request,
A letter in my memory please send,
Off to the President and all his men,
Begging him with others to bring the troops back home.
He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes,
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on T.V. names are taken.
He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes,
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Why are all those young lives taken?
Mother, Mother,
My final transmission.
Wanted to be a school teacher someday,
Came from a small and modest town,
Had never before traveled abroad.
Pop and Mom begged him to stay at home,
The last time they saw him was at an airport,
He hugged his distraught mother a final time.
Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams.
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on T.V. names are taken,
Mother, Mother,
My final transmission.
Got gunny yelling at him, "better prove your worth,"
Moved on to Baghdad about six months on,
Caught an IED today, now he is gone.
Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams.
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on T.V. names are taken,
Mother, Mother,
My final transmission.
Hid a written final transmission under my helmet,
Love you both in heart and mind,
A better set of parents no boy could ever find,
Weep for me and say thy prayers,
Remember me through all your years,
Only got to serve for six months on and,
If you're reading this I have passed and gone.
A letter in my memory please send,
Off to the President and all his men,
Begging him with others to bring the troops back home.
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on T.V. names are taken.
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke,
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Why are all those young lives taken?
Mother, Mother,
My final transmission.
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This is a great song, and the meaning is pretty straight forward. A boy wanted to be a teacher and signed to be in the military for the college fund they offer.
Well in the long run, he died in war only 6 months after being in Iraq. And left a note hidden in his helmet for his mother and father. It's a great song, that is not only simple (musically & lyrically) but very, very POWERFUL! Atleast that's how I feel!
very sad but powerful song...needs to be song more to remind us of the sacrifices that our being made by our kids...
great song...
I beleive this song may have something to do with when Mike McColgan was overseas himselves. Maybe it was someone he knew over there
I have had the privlige of seeing them 3 times in ATL. They play this song everytime and Mike stands on the edge of the stage and tells everyone to take his hand as he sings this: "Weep for me and say thy prayers, Remember me through all your years, Only got to serve for six months on and, If you're reading this I have passed and gone." When I see them live and he does this, it gives me chills.
i unfortunatly didnt get to see them play this last week cuz they didnt play it but the meaning is very straight forward indeed. it is definatly about the lost youth of today that were lost in war. I plan to serve next year once i hit 18 and graduate high school.
I love this song. It has so much meaning to me, as my brother is leaving to Iraq in just a few months. It's so touching, and I'm sure if anyone were to hear it they would think it as beautiful as I did. I'm going to join the Military (Air Force) when I turn 18. I just saw these guys tonight, and I can't get enough of it.