Name: The Veteran
Duration: 6 min 21 s
Channel: Jonnikhan
Description: A ballad that tells the story of the entire life of a person, with the listener put in the place of the subject. The song was written as an anti-war song. It is dedicated to the veterans of every conflict everywhere.

The Veteran

Jonnikhan

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Single $1

Album $12

A ballad that tells the story of the entire life of a person, with the listener put in the place of the subject. The song was written as an anti-war song. It is dedicated to the veterans of every conflict everywhere.

alternative world music classical fusion rock n roll eclectic political tbass dissident jonnikhan

Jonnikhan

Eclectic, Dissident, Alternative, Fusion, Multiplexic, Folk, Jazz, Rock, Funk, Pop, R&B, Classical

Hi! I'm Jonnikhan! Glad to meet ya! Let me introduce you to the band: JONNIKHAN Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Lead Vocals, Primary Percussion and Keyboard. All instrumentation on Outworlder. T-BASS Bassist on all songs except Outworlder.

Song Info

Genre

Rock • Classic Rock

Charts

Peak #308

Peak in subgenre #46

Author

Jonnikhan

Rights

2007

Uploaded

August 07, 2007

Track Files

MP3

MP3 5.8 MB • 128 kbps • 6:21

Story behind the song

I was watching a special report on the casualties of the current Iraq conflict on CNN.  They were interviewing a newly returned veteran from Iraq.  The boy was very young, and he spoke in full support of the war effort - shades of a propaganda photo-op.  The camera was always on the boy's face and as the interview came to a close the camera began moving back to reveal more of the boy.  He was in a wheelchair and had no legs.  As I wrote this song these images were constantly flashing before my eyes.

Lyrics

The Veteran
Music and Lyrics By:  John “Jonnikhan” King

Remember when you were young, so full of life; 
And the wonders of the world were new;
You would smile at the smallest things;
And absorb what your parents knew;
	They told you what time of day it was;
	What you could and could not do;
	Then at the ripe age of three and a half or so;
	They sent you off to school…
You learn from some books, the facts of life;
And the wonders of the world seem old;
You still smile at some of these things;
Amongst the products being sold…
	They tell you what time of day it is;
	What you can and cannot do;
	Then at the ripe age of eighteen or so,
	You serve your country true, country true!  
Oooo, you’re country, too!

You’re the Veteran of some foreign war;
Against a foe you couldn’t see;
Finally home from some distant shore;
Lost your legs below the knee;
	They still tell you what time of day it is;
	What you will or will not receive;
	So as you’re waiting at the end of the line;
	It’s not what you were led to believe…
There you sit, Veteran of reality;
And the wonders of the world are gone;
You rarely smile at anything;
While calmly waiting for the bomb;
	You know exactly what time of day it is;
	What you can and cannot do;
	There is no question of loyalty;
	You served your country true, country true!
	Oooo, you’re country, too!
	Oooo, country true!  Oooo, your country, too; oh, woe!