I fought in a war and i left my friends behind me
To go looking for the enemy, and it wasn't very long
Before i would stand with another boy in front of me
And a corpse that just fell into me, with the bullets flying round

And i reminded myself of the words you said when we were getting on
And i bet you're making shells back home for a steady boy to wear
Round his neck, well it won't hurt to think of you as if you're waiting for
This letter to arrive because i'll be here quite a while

I fought in a war and i left my friends behind me
To go looking for the enemy, and it wasn't very long
Before i found out that the sickness there ahead of me
Went beyond the bedsit infamy of the decade gone before

And i reminded myself of the words you said when we were getting on
And i bet you're making shells back home for a steady man to wear
Round his neck, well it won't hurt to think of you as if you're waiting for
This letter to arrive because i'll be here quite a while

I fought in a war, and i didn't know where it would end
It stretched before me infinitely, i couldn't really think
Of the day beyond now, keep your head down pal
There's trouble plenty in this hour, this day
I can see hope i can see light

And i reminded myself of the looks you gave when we were getting on
And i bet you're making shells back home for a steady man to wear
Round his neck, well it won't hurt to think of you as if you're waiting for
This letter to arrive because i'll be here quite a while