Two days past eighteen He was waitin' for the bus in his army greens Sat down in a booth at a caf? there Gave his order to the girl with a bow in her hair He's a little shy so she gave him a smile So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while And talkin' to me I'm feelin' a little low She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go
So they went down and they sat on the pier He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care I've got no one to send a letter to Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?
CHORUS: I cried Never gonna hold the hand of another guy Too young for him they told her Waitin' for the love of the travelin' soldier Our love will never end Waitin' for the soldier to come back again Never more to be alone When the letter says a soldier's coming home
So the letters came From an army camp In California then Vietnam And he told his heart It might be love And all of the things he was so scared of Said when it's gettin kinda tough over here I think about that day sittin' down at the pier And close my eyes and see your pretty smile Now don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while
CHORUS
(Martie's fiddle break - Emily's dobro break)
One Friday night at a football game The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang A man said folks would you bow your heads For the list of local Vietnam dead Cryin' all alone under the stands Was the piccolo player in the marching band And one name read and no one really cared But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair