Southside Chicago Waltz

The shells going off and the trace is so bright,
at times I can't tell if it's day or it's night
But I feel the Saint Christopher's medal you gave
me when you promised me it would get me home safely
I wish I was back in the arms of my
family, on Memorial Day Sunday or ready to party
When the band hits the stage down in Gaelic Park
with my brothers beside me and you the queen of my heart

Micky's in the Fire department, Danny's a cop,
while I'm here in Baghdad with the Marines mopping up
I wish I was home with ya darling because,
we'd be dancing to the Southside Chicago Waltz

The cannons are roaring and the jets in the
sky and the flares going off like the 4th of July
For a moment I held him dead in my sights and I
squeezed the trigger and it's later pal goodnight
And I think of you lying safely at
home with your arms crying out for me alone
Let's go down to Gaelic Park, yell out American Wake
Let me be in one piece when I get home for both of our sakes

Micky's in the Fire department, Danny's a Cop,
while I'm here in Baghdad with the Marines mopping up
I wish I was home with ya darling because,
we'd be dancing to the Southside Chicago Waltz

Sometimes you gotta be bigger than you are,
stretch up on your toes and reach out for the stars
And I hope to God what I'm doing here is right because
I can't take many more of these bloody godawful nights

Missing Micky in the Fire department and Danny the Cop,
while I'm here in Baghdad with the Marines mopping up
Well I wish I was home with you darling because,
we'd be dancing to the Southside Chicago Waltz