the great goodnight

I was only four
I dont remember you
I have seen your pictures my whole life
Brother... in this great goodnight.
A black frame still protects those two
Letters from the President
They start out: On this day in May 1966
For wounds received in action
Still hanging here after all of this time
Right next to your purple heart
In this great goodnight.
I do have this one hazy memory
I think you had me up on your shoulders
Playing on top of the world for a moment
That couldnt last (it never does)
I love this black and white of you
Playing the harmonica like a giant at our old house
Sitting on that green sofa
You were only 19 but to this kid
You were probably more like 43.
I read an old clipping from the paper
It said they prayed for you
At the church
Now I know everyone
In the photograph
Long before the memorial rose
Looking so much different than today
I havent touched that stone of names
But I have a tracing of yours
On this day in May 1966
For wounds received in action
Still hanging here after all of this time
Right next to your purple heart
In this great goodnight
But for some unknown reason
We never discussed it much growing up
I pieced together the
Whole story out of
That old trunk left in the attic
Youd been gone only 6 weeks
When the Army brass came
To the door knocking
Breaking the news -breaking our hearts
They broke the new to mom
She took it worse than anyone
She really believed- he didnt have to go
The draft missed him by a mile
You could have walked away
But instead you had your final day in Vietnam
When they broke the new to mom
All I can say... she took it worse than anyone
She really believed he would make it back home
He didnt have to go to Vietnam
Here is what thay said;
They claymore went off and you went down
And you would have been ok
You would have been all right
But they could not get to you
The VC were everywhere
So the orders came....
We cant pull Jack out
For him its getting late
But a hundred men
Wont see tomorrow
If we dont quietly wait
We cant pull Jack out...
You knew exactly
What was happening
-why nobody came
You were a good soldier,
Keeping still
Holding out as long as you did
On this day in May 1966...
Within an hour you relaxed
Somehow everything seemed ok
Cause in your soul you knew
Your time in Nam had passed away
...my brother.
With your shirt wet with blood
And your forehead cool
You thanked the Lord
For this Great Goodnight
In this moment of acceptance
This Great Goodnight
Brought you a peace
Youd never known
In this Great Goodnight
The war raging on
In this Great Goodnight
.....my brother....
But brother let me tell you
Its what I know
So maybe one day
We can fill in the blanks
Until we meet again - brother
Ill choose this memory
Well keep remembering
What you did
In that great goodnight
You couldnt hear the medic
Yelling in your ear
While you dreamed of this
Kid back at home
Saying pick me up
So we can play
Brother let me tell you -
I remember
And I think you made it
In that Great Goodnight
In fact, its the only thing
I remember
From that Great Goodnight
Well brother let me tell you...
Its what I know.
Maybe one day we will
Stand together
Until we meet again
Ill choose this memory
And thank you guys
For what you did
And what you tried to do
In this Great Goodnight
On this day in May
For wounds received in action
...and now I see, my brother
This is for you.
And someday you will see that this song
Was for you, my brother.
Now that dat has joined you -
Im sure that he would agree
Got a son on my shoulder
And lots of work to do, brother.
...like was done with me.