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 respect for 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 great battle with the infantry and dream
The old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning
He awoke from that night 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 the courage in their blood and a fire in their stare
And it was a gray morning and they all wondered how they would fair
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 have seen their mothers
And I will no other
To follow me where I'm going

So, take your shower, shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living
Take your shower, shine your shoes
Well, you got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living
Go now, you are forgiven

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

But 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

He said
I have seen the others
And I have discovered
That this fight is not worth fighting, no
And I've have seen their mothers
And I will no other
To follow me where I'm going

So, take your shower, shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living, yeah
Take your shower, shine your shoes
Well, you got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living
Go now you are forgiven

Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go

Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go

Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, got to be, got to be, got to be, got to be, got to be, hey (go now you are forgiven)


Lyrics submitted by dragonflower44, edited by taramae88

The General Lyrics as written by Bradley Joseph Corrigan, Peter Heimbold, Charles Stokes Urmston

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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The General song meanings
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    General Comment

    I think what people who are so anti-war sometimes fail to realize is there is such a thing as a just war, an injust war, a war worth fighting, and a war not worth fighting (as in the song). I think most people can agree that the US' involvement in Vietnam was... not so great, and that was a war that did not need to be fought, and it would have been nice to have the General over there during the massacres. However look at World War II and you'll get a wholly different impression. Over in Europe people were being killed by the millions, and we in America did not want to get involved because it didn't "directly affect us," that sort of makes me sick. I'm sorry that we didn't get involved earlier. As it happened, our not wanting to get involved likely brought much more bloodshed than had we involved ourselves at the start of the war. Though it would be nice if there were no such thing as war in this world, that's simply not the case, and as it is said, "All that is required for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing," Sometimes, we must fight to protect our way of life (but not to impose it on others, right?).

    Now that my little diatribe is over, can I just say, Kicking song!

    Whoscruffyon August 25, 2002   Link

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