"The Face of Victory" - Gulf War Soldier song (David Rovics)

"Welcome to the next Oklahoma City (and many other developments). The veterans of war are returning."

The Face of Victory

David Rovics

I lost my job and joined the army

To get an education

And I most surely did

Wanted to have some kinda steady job

Lead a decent life

Support me and my wife and kid

First I was based in Texas

Then it was off to Germany

Then they sent us to Iraq

So many ruined buildings

So many burned up bodies

Twisted railroad track

We were sent off to Fallujah

Told to keep the peace

Amidst such hunger and despair

I was just nineteen

I didn’t have a clue

What we were doing there

Now they say the war is over

And I’m back at home

Here in the land of the free

And you’re looking at the face of victory

Patrolling thru Fallujah

Driving on the rubble

Shattered pavement and shattered glass

They sent us on the search for weapons

We looked in every basement

Never found a single barrel of gas

And when we saw the cities looted

While we watched the oil pipelines

It all began to seem so clear

We were fighting for Exxon

And dying for Chevron

That’s what we were doing here

They told us we’d be welcomed

As troops of liberation

And once again they lied

We got shot at every day

Everywhere we went

A bunch of my buddies died

A rocket launcher hit my tank

Started up a fire

Blew my legs right off of me

And now you’re looking at the face of victory

They sent me back to Michigan

Put some plastic on my stumps

Sent me on my way

And now I roll on down the city streets

Looking at the people

While they turn their eyes away

Down at the Burren

They were talking about the government

And how it’s all a ruse

And I get a little madder

Every time I see the president

Smirking on the evening news

And I think of how they duped me

And so many more good people

And I think of the price we paid

The rich keep getting richer

And the bastards are already scheming

About the next nation they want us to invade

And I just keep on thinking

About this situation

I think of Oklahoma City

Yeah, you’re looking at the face of victory

Created November, 2003

Copyright David Rovics 2003, all rights reserved