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