Lyrics:

[Cadence]
I don't know what I left (I don't know what I left)
But I know it won't be long (But I know it won't be long)
No it won't be long (No it won't be long)
'Till I get back home

They gave me a green uniform and black boots for my feet
Eighteen and wild as hell, I thought it would be neat
They put me on a plane to some strange and foreign land
I said good-bye to mom and dad and hello to Uncle Sam

[Chorus]
Once I was a soldier and not afraid to die
Now I'm a little older and not afraid to cry
Everyday I'm thankful just to be alive
When you've been where I've been any kind of life
Is pradise

Christmas of eighty-nine was a lonely time for me
Panama was probably fine but it was nothing like Tennessee
I never thought the day would come when I might have to kill a man
I did not sleep a wink that night but we won for Uncle Sam

[Chorus]
Once I was a soldier and not afraid to die
Now I'm a little older and not afraid to cry
Everyday I'm thankful just to be alive
When you've been where I've been any kind of life
Is pradise

If you've been where I've been any kind of life
Is paradise

It's paradise
Paradise