(I had a few odds and ends type jobs around town for a while, sweepin' up at the barber's shop, shinin' shoes outside the bus station. But they only lasted weeks at a time, seemed even though I had lived here my whole life, I was just a stranger. I would visit my momma every once in a while, break down wishin' I was laid up next to her. I tried and I tried not to let life back home get the best of me, but it was so g******** hard. With what little money saved, I usually spent on drinkin' and then payin' to sleep in a room above the bar. wasn't too bad, a lot of men like me that came home from the war with nothin', just a room and a bed was enough. One of the men livin' up there had his daddy's old guitar, and it was just about the prettiest thing I had seen. I played one years back that belonged to one of the boys on me ma's old block, and he taught me some slide and some pickin', but nothin' much. This man livin' up there with me, could he ever play. He'd stay up late in the night just pickin' his blues away, and boy did we have them blues.)
I'm wandering these streets alone
They don't feel like home
This once hallowed ground
Feels like a ghost town now
I'm on the street corners everyday
At night I drink it away.
And this flask that saved my life
Might be the death of me.
And no man in this city
Will take a chance on me
The color of my skin
Is all they see.
I was a hero when I came home
Now no one seems to know
And that medal that I received
Means nothing to me
I keep reading my momma's prayers
I find nothing in there
That makes any sense to me.
Her god
Is no more
Than a thief.
Gonna pack up
Gonna leave town
On a train car
Headed north bound
I'm gonna leave
I'm gonna leave.
With my lost hope
I'm gonna get out
Carry burdens,
Carry my guilt
I'm gonna leave
Carry burdens
Burdens
Burdens
My burdens
I watched the good men fall and brave boys die
Hearing soldiers sob in the dead of night
Every poor young soul that dies in vain
Every soldier lost in this country's name
I carry guilt and my shame
No pride and no name
Just burdens
Burdens
My burdens
My burdens
My guilt and my shame
No pride and no name
Just burdens
I'm wandering these streets alone
They don't feel like home
This once hallowed ground
Feels like a ghost town now
I'm on the street corners everyday
At night I drink it away.
And this flask that saved my life
Might be the death of me.
And no man in this city
Will take a chance on me
The color of my skin
Is all they see.
I was a hero when I came home
Now no one seems to know
And that medal that I received
Means nothing to me
I keep reading my momma's prayers
I find nothing in there
That makes any sense to me.
Her god
Is no more
Than a thief.
Gonna pack up
Gonna leave town
On a train car
Headed north bound
I'm gonna leave
I'm gonna leave.
With my lost hope
I'm gonna get out
Carry burdens,
Carry my guilt
I'm gonna leave
Carry burdens
Burdens
Burdens
My burdens
I watched the good men fall and brave boys die
Hearing soldiers sob in the dead of night
Every poor young soul that dies in vain
Every soldier lost in this country's name
I carry guilt and my shame
No pride and no name
Just burdens
Burdens
My burdens
My burdens
My guilt and my shame
No pride and no name
Just burdens