Compulsory Hero

(album: …ish - 1988)

Remember the times when we were kids
Playing war games in your yard
Everybody had to be a hero

And get one in the heart
Night would fall and we'd call a truce
And all go home

Years went by we were average guys
Playing life by the rule of thumb
Till a man came on the TV
Talking 'bout war like he wanted one
He said "Everybody line up, backs to the wall
Till your numbers called"

You've gotta go and be a hero
I've got a new game for all you boys
Its war without a choice
Compulsory hero
Just try and make it home

Grandpa heard the call to all
For a war to end all wars
And your dad went off to do his bit
And he had to go one more
You've really got no say in it
You have to fight
And that's the law

You've gotta go and be a hero
They made a law you had to go fight
One more crazy war
Compulsory hero
Just try and make it home

So all that had to be heroes
Went off to do their chores
None of them really wouldn't of known
How far a bloody war goes
They're dying to make it home

Then I think back on all those times
Playing war games in your yard
Everybody had to be a hero
Back then that wasn't hard
Night would fall on the battle zone
And we could all go home

You had to go and be a hero
They made a law that you had to go and fight
One more crazy war
Compulsory hero
Just try and make it home
Just try and make it home
But whose gonna make it home