The Lyrics that Define

I wanted to live the life of The Rooster. To find a bond as deep In Color. To live the reality of Sgt. MacKenzie’s March. To be Johnny Boy’s Bones, because I knew I was never going to be the Fortunate Son.

The world provided the paradox. To have an answer when others asked, “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?” To have wanted nothing more than to personally deliver the retort, Courtesy of The Red White and Blue. To know my answer was, “No,” when they asked, “Have You Forgotten?” so many years later.

I later received Letters from Home. I became an American Soldier. I live the Tip of The Spear. I repeatedly bore witness to Taps, wishing only that they might Bury My Bones instead. I lived Sailor Jerri’s Hallelujah. 

After it all, I became a Hero of War, asking if they could Gimme Shelter. I wish that sometimes I might only Shut Out the Light. I bear the guilt of living on the Wrong Side of Heaven. Over a decade later, I still wonder, “Didn’t I?”

When the Man Comes Around, I will be nothing more than an Oklahoma Son. Maybe one day I can be on the East Side of Sorrow, but not This Night. These words, and the many others, they are The Prayer. 

They are my prayer.

The Rooster: https://youtu.be/uAE6Il6OTcs?si=102oWNfnFAXB_XRd

In Color: https://youtu.be/EYGwxf1gCC4?si=ekAYJkA757r6yGTB

Sgt. MacKenzies March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB2Ad04mukI

Johnny Boy’s Bones: https://youtu.be/4gs7hxSk05Q?si=xL9ptrIV7NojRrms

Fortunate Son: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWijx_AgPiA

Where Were You When: https://youtu.be/Zj6rMcVNQbw?si=ieJil7lQmIv_9xjI

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue:  https://youtu.be/ruNrdmjcNTc?si=fVfhzTOexa_A8j1R

Have You Forgotten: https://youtu.be/p6yLQRF-cEU?si=L_ZAGLrXIw8ptg0g

Letters From Home: https://youtu.be/FIG9C3n-SPc?si=ZKnsfP4NWSG8bhpj

American Soldier: https://youtu.be/DWrMeBR8W-c?si=UzVzCoh_qoXBU6ec

Tip of The Spear: https://youtu.be/XXhGrs6wKCI?si=d0cwPyS7UDfyc6xn

Taps:

Bury My Bones: https://youtu.be/50qyb5a36IM?si=Xs8qiq2OUyQzQ1qS

Hallelujah: https://youtu.be/SOIjNk__0m4?si=xs1pJsr6gtSD22GZ

Hero of War: https://youtu.be/_DboMAghWcA?si=3AvICpNwa8XFVLqd

Gimme Shelter: https://youtu.be/RbmS3tQJ7Os?si=DqDlYFHFgKi1VKCb

Shut Out the Light: https://youtu.be/uAqbN9HO68A?si=uKDiOjCK-Bax9dOw

Wrong Side of Heaven: https://youtu.be/o_l4Ab5FRwM?si=DoMTEEyBh9B1U_ZT

Didn’t I: https://youtu.be/zqRX1jtsnpg?si=-eNxG1W5CJNBHGGI

When the Man Comes Around: https://youtu.be/k9IfHDi-2EA?si=Pd9gn-3sAFRonABR

Oklahoma Son: https://youtu.be/9czg09qf72U?si=ihjy0z9KtOAnnrKM

East Side of Sorrow: https://youtu.be/jwAQb6-GdPg?si=wmDnHY8uPo2U-KwH

This Night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqxQsdKkHys

The Prayer: https://youtu.be/HCkzf9ncAtg?si=9bgb4MqjfP56QL6w

______________________________

This first appeared in The Havok Journal on September 2, 2024.

Jake Smith is a law enforcement officer and former Army Ranger with four deployments to Afghanistan.

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.