only a boy

only last june

he got his diploma

in just a short while

trainin' in oklahoma

learnin' to shoot

to salute

shine a boot

takin' orders

fixin' mortars

guardin' our boarders

he was only a boy

but had a man's job to do

willing to die

for me

for you

set sail for vietnam

to help out our nation

tryin' to put down

the red infiltration

fightin' in trenches

out in drenches and stenches

shootin' headlong

at a throng of viet cong

he was only a boy

but had a man's job to do

willing to die

not just for me

but for you

he thought about his folks

he sure missed his girl

as bullets and shells

around him started to swirl

one ripped through his shirt

blood spurt

man it hurt

he spun around

fell face down

head to the ground

he was only a boy

but had a man's job to do

willing to die

for me

for you

ah

so his parents got a medal

so his girl got his ring

but to his country he left

one very special thing

he helped people stay free

from the misery of tyranny

yeah he died without fright

in a fight that he knew was right

he was only a boy

but had a man's job to do

willing to die

not just for me

but for you