souls of the departed

on the road to basra stood young lieutenant jimmy bly

detailed to go through the clothes of the soldiers who died

at night in dreams he sees their souls rise

like dark geese into the oklahoma skies

well this is a prayer for the souls of the departed

those who've gone and left their babies brokenhearted

this is a prayer for the souls of the departed

now raphael rodriguez was just seven years old

shot down in a schoolyard by some east compton cholos

his mama cried my beautiful boy is dead"