THE BOYS OF WAR song lyrics
by Joel Sattler

we were boys on the hill
we were playing at war
with guns made of branches
and bomb apple cores

with bullets of whistles
and pine cone grenades
and charged through the thistles
facing death unafraid

but in a few years
in a land far away
assassins killed archdukes
someone had to pay

like a house built of cards
it all had to fall
and the masks all came off
at the masquerade ball

we were boys when we left
when we left for the war
and some of the boys
will be boys evermore
they will never be men
always be age eleven
playing at battles
on the hills up in heaven

so us boys all were pals
and we signed up together
and promised to serve
if it took us forever

to knock out the Hun
and win back the prize
but when it was done
it was nothing but lies

now most of the lads
they lay under the ground
under the poppies
and make not a sound

and for all of their youth
and for all of their laughter
there is nothing to show
for the promised hereafter

we were boys when we left
when we left for the war
and the rest of the boys
will be boys evermore
they will never be men
always be age eleven
playing at battles
on the hills up in heaven


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