Final Transmission

[Verse 1] He had just turned nineteen yesterday Wanted to be a school teacher someday Came from a small and modest town Had never before traveled abroad He signed on the promise of a college fund Pop and Mom begged him to stay at home The last time they saw him was at an airport He hugged his distraught mother a final time [Pre-Chorus] He went abroad to serve when he was only nineteen Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams [Chorus] He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes Lost them all amidst this war and smoke Can you hear the sound of youth negated? Watch on TV names are taken Mother, Mother My final transmission [Verse 2] Paris Island was plain hell on earth Got gunny yelling at him, "better prove your worth" Moved on to Baghdad about six months on Caught an IED today, now he is gone [Pre-Chorus] He went abroad to serve when he was only nineteen Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams [Chorus] He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes Lost them all amidst this war and smoke Can you hear the sound of youth negated? Watch on TV names are taken Mother, Mother My final transmission [Verse 3] Dad and Mom I am your only loving son Hid a written final transmission under my helmet Love you both in heart and mind A better set of parents no boy could ever find Weep for me and say thy prayers Remember me through all your years Only got to serve for six months on and If you're reading this I have passed and gone So I harbor my final request A letter in my memory please send Off to the President and all his men Begging him with others to bring the troops back home [Chorus] He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes Lost them all amidst the war and smoke Can you hear the sound of youth negated? Watch on TV names are taken He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes Lost them all amidst this war and smoke Can you hear the sound of youth negated? Why are all those young lives taken? Mother, Mother My final transmission