g.i. joe and lillie

he was a streetwise kid from philly

just 19 in '44

joined up in uncle's army

hit the beach and fought a war

a decorated hero

he never talks about those days

because of guys like g.i. joe our country's free today

she was woman's army corp

raised in carolina dirt

escorting wounded young men home

from a burning hell on earth

the first time that she saw him

he was broken and alone

lillie fell in love that day

when he winked and said hello

and lillie sang this song to g.i. joe

let me hold you in my arms handsome soldier

take my hand for we are going home today

let me kiss away your tears

let me pray away your fears

i'll stay here with you

till they carry us away

they married in the spring

all dressed up in army green

took out a loan

bought a home

raised a family

the war returned to g.i. joe in 1965

the old wounds came back to haunt him

but lillie's love kept him alive

now they're living in a veteran's home

they've both grown old and gray

the medals earned so long ago

now hang there in a case

sometimes she finds him weeping

as he lay there in his bed

the distant sounds of battle

still echo in his head

and lillie sings this song to g.i. joe

some day they'll rest in arlington

'neath the red

the white and blue

safe in the arms of jesus

when their journey here is through

an american love story

not unlike a lot of others

except that g.i. joe and lillie

is my father and my mother