No Outstanding Qualities

29 and practically an old man
When he was dragged in
Was he more scared than the boys that he was with
Not seduced by the stories
He must have known
There was no adventure or glory

He shipped out in summer
To England's 149
Away from a two year old boy
He might not see again

No Outstanding Qualities
Or room for sentiment
For the men, that had to leave

36 missions crammed in a tin-can
No room for a chute
He could not choose what he would or would not do
Tail-end Charlie had nowhere to hide
He road his luck
And just tried to survive

Alone and exposed
He had to sink or swim
Buried his thoughts and fears
No LMF for him

(Still they wrote)
No Outstanding Qualities
A measure of the man against
The brutal call of duty

Coming back to spare beds and a half empty hut
Did he curse the gods, or fate, or men
For whoever got the chop
Still he'd polish up his boots
And head back out again
Just get home

Family was everything, you could see him soak it in
Though I know he loved where he'd got to
He hated where he'd been
We loved him dearly
As we all do our own
He came home

(And they wrote)
No Outstanding Qualities
(May be right, but it couldn't have been more wrong)
No Outstanding Qualities
(May be right, but it couldn't have been more wrong)