For Queen And Country. Poem by Glenn Ford

I stood in line and swore the oath for the country that I love
I was no more than a boy
But I knew I'd enjoy
To be carried in the war birds that fly up above

My uniform pressed I pushed out my chest and learned the way of war
I became a good man
In the knowledge that I am
Not the person that I was before

As bullets fly I ask myself why? Am I fighting on this foreign soil
They have done nothing to me
And I just can't see
Why they say fight for freedom when they really mean oil

The battle raged on and I look to my friend John, his eyes so full of fear
I'm not scared for me
Its's my family you see
What would they do if I were not here?

A bang and a flash the room full of ash John's tunic had turned crimson red
The medic helped with the pain
And he tried, but in vain
Within very few moments poor John was dead

It was the end, the demise of my friend made me certain that this wasn't right
I closed my eyes
And I realised
I'd lost the will to stand up and fight

I stood in line and swore an oath to never fight again
And this I say
To this very day
War is not justified for another's bloody gain