G.I. Joe

(album: Full Circle - 1988)

Well he smoked those Camel cigarettes about three packs a day
Nicotine stains on his fingers when he'd stretch them out to play
That old "Midnight special" is one he loved to do
Then he'd sing "I'm walking the floor over you

TV preachers and welfare checks for him just had no place
But he'd take his time to tune real good when he sang "Amazing Grace"
He'd say boys I'm old and crazy but I still give a damn
And I still think the boys got screwed over in Vietnam

He'd drag out that old uniform
And say "they used to call me slim"
He never could get it buttoned up
But the pride looked good on him
He still feels the way he felt
Over forty years ago
Here's to the old man
Here's to G.I. Joe

He only sang the old songs, he's standing still in time
"My Phillipino baby", right there on his mind
Then he'd talk about the big one, the war we didn't lose
He'd pick a little bit like Travis "Re-Enlistment blues"

He'd drag out that old uniform
And say "they used to call me slim"
He never could get it buttoned up
But the pride looked good on him
He still feels the way he felt
Over forty years ago
Here's to the old man
Here's to G.I. Joe

Here's to my old man
And all the G.I. Joe's