I spoke to a few people about this subject I heard about on the news. It really touched me a lot so it's a piece that's taken me since then to write. Thanks for reading. Comments appreciated. I'm thinking something a little more mellow in style, but opinions on that are appreciated as well.

The story details are --
A soldier worked in social services and was told he was to get a promotion when he got back from military duty in Iraq. They passed him up for his promotion and gave it to someone else. He wrote an email to the paper and said he couldn't afford the money for a lawyer to fight it so he shot himself.

"The Thanks He Got"

(chorus, sung mellow at first)
He toiled within the labor force.
He toiled with his countrymen.
He went to fight for freedom
In a place hard to defend.
He came back home to a place
Where he thought himself safe from harm,
But a bullet left him cold.
He felt his part in life denied

Promises before he left, before he marched to war.
Strength that gave him hope to go on better than before.
But heartless bureaucracy took every hope away.
He could see no future. All had been taken instantly that day.

While he heard the shells exploding, he'd rest his tired head
And think of future days lying at home in a soft, warm bed.
He thought of the new tasks he'd have far from this war he knew
And it gave him a peace to live to see it through.

"You were gone so we replaced you. Didn't know if you'd return.
So you can't have your job back. That bridge has gotten burned.
But it's been nice knowing you. We'll give you a nice recommendation.
But we needed to replace you now so that was our decision."

(chorus)
He toiled within the labor force.
He toiled with his countrymen.
He went to fight for freedom
In a place hard to defend.
He came back home to a place
Where he thought himself safe from harm,
But a bullet left him cold.
He felt his part in life denied.

(break)
Is this the way we treat those defending us to keep the world the best that it can be ?
Is this the kind of thanks we give to those trying to make all of mankind free?
Is this the person working with you to give you a better life?
Is this the one we slapped in the face when he came back from the fight?

He saw the mothers crying here and saw many cry there, too,
For the sons and daughters that they'd borne
And tried the best that he could do --
To come to all their aide regardless of their creed.
But when he needed help himself, there was no rescue to be.

He became another statisic, another victim in the war
Of the battle fought right here on his homeland's shore
He couldn't fight the system with money he couldn't provide
So he took himself away, despared, dishearteded, and denied

(chorus)
He toiled within the labor force
He toiled with his countrymen
He went to fight for freedom
In a place hard to defend
He came back home to a place
Where he thought himself safe from harm
But a bullet left him cold
He felt his part in life denied.

BJH

__________________

heavy stuff, thumbs up!

__________________

it is easier to write from inspiration, than from your imagination. great job on this.

__________________

Thanks guys. I'm still tweaking it, but it came close to saying what I wanted it to say.

__________________