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 it's gone
They have short memories, it disappears just like quicksilver
They have short memories, now it's gone

My Daddy was in Nicosea, 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 can't stop a train or catch the rain drops
As they come falling
Sure there'll be another war
Sure as sure the call-up 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 flags
And on each toe there hung a tag saying there'll be more someday

'Cause they have short memories, they forget it all so quickly
They have short memories, now it's gone
They have short memories, it disappears just like quicksilver
They have short memories, now it's gone

now it's gone, now it's gone, now it's gone