What’s Left of the Flag

His eyes, they closed and his last breath spoke
He had seen all to be seen
A life once full, now an empty vase
Wilt the blossoms on his early grave

Walk away me boy, walk away me boy
And by morning we'll be free
Wipe that golden tear from your mother, dear
And raise what's left of the flag for me

Then the rosary beads, count them one, two, three
Fell apart as they hit the floor
In a garb of black, we must pay respect
To the color we're born to mourn

Walk away me boys, walk away me boys
By morning, we'll be free
Wipe that golden tear from your mother, dear
Raise what's left of the flag for me

In this place there grew an angry festered wound
Filled with hatred and remorse
Where I pick and scratch 'til the blood amassed
To silent rage now that fills my lungs

For there are many ways to kill a man, they say
With bayonet, axe, or sword
But, son, a bullet fired from a shapeless guise
Just put the shell of a Thompson gun

Walk away me boys, walk away me boys
And by morning we'll be free
Wipe that golden tear from your mother, dear
Raise what's left of the flag for me

From the east out to the western shore
Where many men and many more will fall
But no angel flies with me tonight
Though freedom reigns on all
And curse the name for which we slaved our days
So every man chose Kingdom Come

But sure as night turns day it's the passion play
Oh, my God, what have they done
With madman's rage, well, they dug our graves
But the dead rise again, you fools

Walk away me boys, walk away me boys
And by morning we'll be free
Wipe that golden tear from your mother, dear
Raise what's left of the flag for me

Walk away me boys, walk away me boys
And by morning we'll be free

Wipe that golden tear from your mother, dear
And raise what's left of the flag for me