There was a decorated general with a heart of gold
that likened him to all the stories he told
of past battles won and lost and legends of old
A seasoned veteran in his own time
On the battlefield he gained respectful fame
with many medals of bravery
and stripes to his name
He grew a beard as soon as he could
to cover the scars on his face
and always urged his men on
But on the eve of a great battle
with the infantry in dream
the old general tossed in his sleep
and wrestled with its meaning
He awoke from that night
to tell what he had seen
and walked slowly out of his tent
All the men held tall with their chests in the air
with courage in their blood and a fire in their stare
And it was a gray morning
and they all wondered how they would fare
till the old general told them to go home
He said
I have seen the others
and I have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting
And I've seen the mothers
and I will noother
to follow me where I'm going
So take a shower and shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Take a shower and shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Go now you are forgiven
Yeah-eah
But the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders
not knowing what to do with their contradicting orders
The general said he would do his own duty
but he would extend it no further
The men could go as they pleased
But not a man moved
their eyes gazed straight ahead
till one by one they stepped back
and not a word was said
And the old general was left with his own words
echoing in his head
He then prepared to fight
He said
I have seen the others
and I have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting
No
And I've seen the mothers
and I will noother
to follow me where I'm going
So take a shower and shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Yeah
Take a shower and shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Go now you are forgiven
Yeah yeah oww
Mm-mm ha
Yeah-eah
Go now you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven
Go
Yeah
Go now you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven
Go-o-oooo
Go now you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven
Go now you got to be
got to be got to be got to be
got to be he-e-e-ey
Oh-oh-ahh-a-a-ahh
Yeah-eah