Bill and Jack and Tom

At the age of 17 
Tin hat, tin gun 
And this blasted uniform 
Told us we were fighting
For our country, for the cause
And we believed, and so we went along
Flew us to the front line 
Bullets overhead and some lay dead 
And the wounded flew back home
Me and my comrades 
Bill and Jack and Tom 
We were troubling
For we knew we’d have to kill
Didn’t ask for reasons 
Did what we were told 
And now I’m old 
And still I feel the pain.

(Verse) Where are my comrades now
Bill and Jack and Tom, I wonder if 
God Almighty let them in
For if they’re not in heaven 
Then they’re surely not in hell 
For they were there 
Before they died at all

Never used to smoke 
There it was no joke 
Had to have the pause to feel secure
In our foxhole 
Bill and Jack and Tom and me 
We’d tell each other stories, to keep sane
No food for days 
Sunstroke from the rays 
The water tasted like liquid clay
Letters to our families 
Telling them big lies of how 
It’s not as bad as people back home dreamed

(Verse) Where are my comrades now…

It was too dark 
Got us from behind 
And I awoke, in my hospital bed
Yes I survived 
My comrades died 
And I lay there 
Wondering why and cried
Two missing legs
And one blind eye
My reasons left to live were very few
I carried on 
Still today I pray for my comrades 
Bill and Jack and Tom. 

(Verse) Where are my comrades now…

For if they’re not in heaven 
Then they’re surely not in hell 
My old comrades, Bill and Jack and Tom