When you're a vet
it should only be days
From your last bayonet
to your benefits phase.
When you're a vet
you should get all they said.
And you never should fret
you'd be better off dead.
 
The right I.O.U.
should make your deal completed.
Your fighting is through.
you shouldn't feel defeated.
Or real mistreated.
 
You should be set
for the rest of your life.
With no ounce of regret
From your husband or wife.
When you're a vet
you're owed a debt.
 
When you're a vet.
if you're coming home scarred
To the Army, Reserves, or the National Guard.
You shouldn't sweat
as an injured Marine
That you might fall between
All the cracks you have seen.
 
The end of your tour
Should truly be the ending.
To go back for more
Exclusively depending
On you extending.
 
Vets, here's to you.
Your post-war should be swell.
Not some Catch-22.
Where each door leads to hell.
 
Here's to the vets.
And the hand they deserve.
Their commander-in-chief
Doesn't know how to serve.
 
And where's the V.A.?
The bureaucrats who blunder.
Why don't they just pay
Disabled vets who wonder:
"Will I go under?"
 
Here's to each vet.
From D.C.
from Duluth.
Who have taken the bet.
Who've forsaken their youth.
Just another inconvenient truth.
 
Gary Stockdale - lead vocal;
background vocals
Greg Hilfman - music director 

Ⓟ © 2007 RMSWorks LLC.  Lyrics © 2007 RMSWorks LLC.  All rights reserved.  These audio files are provided for personal listening only.  No reproduction, distribution or performance of this recording or these lyrics is permitted, in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written authorization of RMSWorks LLC.  For more information, contact versus@versusplus.com.