They took their kids in their teenage years Fitted them out with combat gear Filled their hearts with mortal fear and sent them away Some came home their pants in creases Some came home in bits and pieces The president made a lot of speeches and went fishing for the day Cause they have short memories, they forget it all so quickly They have short memories, now its gone They have short memories, it disappears just like quicksilver They have short memories, now its gone My Daddy was in Nicosia, Egypt and North Korea He came back to a good career, shovelling coal I was just the village lout I never got my finger out I never wanted for anything still I broke and entered and stole You cant stop a train or catch the rain drops As they come falling Sure therell be another war Sure as sure the callup will come calling They took their kids in their teenage years Gave them a God that they could fear Said they could kill but not drink beer And sent them away Some came home in a body bag Some came home wrapped in a flag And on each toe there hung a tag saying therell be more someday [repeat first Chorus] ...now its gone, now its gone, now its gone
short, came, memory, gone, teenage