From the back of my Avalanche album.... I'm also an Eric Andersen fan. Have you seen him lately? FOR WHAT WAS GAINED (Eric Andersen) In my own city, where I come from I had a friend we grew up as one The best of our lives we made a vow To stick it our some way somehow How many times, we talked the night away How many plans we made to hit the road someday How many things there was to see, there was to be How many things when you're young and free No, he never had much family Little brother and him, and mama made three There was a time, there once was four But he can't talk about that no more And then one day a letter came And on that day, I knew right there, our roads had changed It called for him, to fight for us He said "I ain't scared" but I knew he was He looked so young in his uniform And mama packed the trunk so old and worn "It's a sad design, the Lord he weaves If it was His will, it was meant to be" A tear was hid as he stood and waved And mama said "We love you son try to be brave" Little brother he watched so proudly then Said "When I grow up, I'm gonna be like him" It was a Sunday morning little brother ran Up the front porch cryin' with a telegram The contents read, it was on a hill It was in action, a boy was killed Mama shrunk and fell and said "God help me understand" And on her shoulder was little brothers hand "I'll be alright, go on to your room," Thinkin' to herself "He'll be eighteen soon" To die so young in an unknown land Where the shame of blood is on no one's hand And on whose heart will the guilt be bound On the one who sent him out, the one who shot him down? He was eighteen and he had to die And to this day, God knows, I don't know why To be so young, paid such a cost For what was gained for what was lost?
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