False Flags

My name is McDonald, from a small town in Scotland Like my fathers before me, I would've gone down the mines But the war against the unions destroyed our communion When I came of age, there was no work to be found I left school aged sixteen Couldn't hold down a job for more than a few weeks A friend of a friend told me I should apply For a career in the army, "You'll be set up for life" I went down to the office, put my name on the list Recruiting sergeant said, "We'll make a man of you yet" With rifles and bullets and bayonets They taught me the ways of a soldier In my innocence they caught me Proud of my regiment, uniform and gun Swore an oath of allegiance to the Crown I was so proud to serve, salute and enlist To give my life for the country of my birth False flags are flying Young men are dying For a cause that means nothing Just a trick on our souls (Ooh) (Ooh) They sold me a lie, like many others, I bought it They conjured a war, I served and I fought it Sowed murder in cities, mountains and deserts The lucky ones stayed, some came home blind and legless Out on patrol, we found a boy named Mohammed He shook like a wee frightened bird An officer said, "Let's play Russian Roulette" We hooded the boy, put a gun to his head False flags are flying Young men are dying For a cause that means nothing Just a trick on our souls When I came home, there was no work to be found No qualifications, fourth-grade education Now I drink through the days so that when night-time comes I won't think of the things that I saw and I done I took off my uniform, threw it in the bin For it could not protect me from the demons within From the war that is raging inside my head If this is living, I'd be better off dead False flags are flying Young men are dying For a cause that means nothing Just a trick on our souls While false flags keep flying and mothers keep crying No more will their young men come home anymore (Ooh) (Ooh)