Early in the forties

my father went to sea,

on a Navy destroyer

to fight to make us free.

Hit by a torpedo

the ship was lost at sea

rescued by his comrades

he came home to be with me.

Early in the sixties

a new mother I became

you were in the Air Force

and called to Vietnam.

You had to pass a physical

your eyes didn't stand the test,

you said goodbye to all your friends

and stayed here with the rest.

Early in the eighties

our son became a Marine

broken hearted when he left

afraid of what he'd see.

Thank God there was no conflict

no chance to go to war

working with computers

he finished up his tour.

Early in the nineties

war was meant to be

I held my breath again to pray

no son they'd take from me.

Not knowing what to think right now

the boys, too young or too old

but of this newest conflict

will it last a while as told?

It's so hard to be a woman

holding on to keep all free

so sad we're protected by children

the thought still frightens me.

I can only pray for peace now

to keep close the ones I love

I'll wrap my arms around them

and pray for help from up above.