Purple Heart

My uncle had a Purple Heart. And not just the medal on his dresser. The whole shebang. If hard times was religion, I’d be the Pope.

I’ve got some change in my pocket
New shoes on my feet
But I work like the devil
For the little I can keep
There’s a woman who loves me
Asleep in the car
While I’m drinking cheap whiskey
In this smoky bar
I work six days a week
From seven to three
There are guys who just started
Who make more than me
Cause they went to college
While I went to war
They got bachelors degrees
I got this purple heart

Chorus:
I gave up on dreaming
A long time ago
If nightmares were dollars
I’d be Ross Perot
If hard times was religion
I’d be the Pope
I’d trade this hard earned medal
For a drink and a smoke

Wanda and I got married
We had some big plans
She would raise all our children
While I farmed her daddy’s land
But the bank came a calling
Took that land away
So I found work at the mill
At the mill I’ll stay
Until I turn sixty
At least that’s the plan
I’m not sure if I’ll make it
I feel like an old man
So pour me another
I’ve got cash to spend
And a week from this Friday
I’ll be back here again

Chorus:
I gave up on dreaming
A long time ago
If nightmares were dollars
I’d be Ross Perot
If hard times was religion
I’d be the Pope
I’d this hard earned medal
For a drink and a smoke

Things have been kinda tough
Since I got discharged
But compared to where I’ve been
The real world ain’t all that hard
I had good friends who got killed
And I’m not sure what for
Though I fought for my country
It wasn’t my war
Now all I have to show
For all I’ve been through
Is this beat up purple heart
All battered and bruised
The clouds are gathering
I say let it rain
The weather keeps on changing
But I stay just the same

Chorus:
I gave up on dreaming
A long time ago
If nightmares were dollars
I’d be Ross Perot
If hard times was religion
I’d be the Pope
I’d trade this hard earned medal
For a drink and a smoke