When I was young
I wanted to be all I could be
So I signed up for the infantry

They trained me well
They put a rifle in my hand
Said give 'em hell
And don't let up

Well, up till then I'd just been wanderin' through a dream
Now my life made perfect
Perfect sense to me
They sent me out and soon I met the enemy
I took my gun and shot him down

As he lay
I watched the life fade from his eyes
As the blood ran down his face

Said oh my God
What the hell have I just done
I took his life
Right there he lays

And up till then I'd just been wanderin' through a dream
I'd never killed a man
I'd never felt that sting
They sent me out and soon I met the enemy
I took my gun and shot him down

When I was young
I wanted to be all I could be
So I signed up to go to war

They trained me well
But they don't train for how it feels
It sends a chill down through my core
I don't know how to deal with how this feels

How was I supposed to know
How could I know
How could I know
How could I know
How could I know
How could I know
How could I know