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