This is the twenty-third in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990.
I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.
Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".
Todays song, titled "Camouflage", released in 1986, is by a singer called STAN RIDGEWAY.
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| Stan Ridgeway |
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| Hear the song here |
I was a PFC on a search patrol, hunting Charlie down
It was in the jungle wars of '65
My weapon jammed and I got stuck way out and all alone
And I could hear the enemy moving in close outside
Just then I heard a twig snap and I grabbed my empty gun
And I dug in scared while I counted down my fate
And the a big marine, a giant with a pair of friendly eyes
Appeared there at my shoulder and said "Wait"
When he came in close beside me, he said "Don't worry son, I'm here
If Charlie wants to tangle now, he'll have two to dodge"
I said "Well thanks a lot". I told him my name and asked him his
And he said "The boys just call me camouflage"
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
Things are never quite the way they seem
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
I was awfully glad to see this big marine
Well we fought all night, side by side, we took our battle stands
And I wondered how the bullets missed this man
Cus they seemed to go right through him, just as if he wasn't there
And in the morning we both took a chance and ran
And it was near the riverbank when the ambush came on top of us
And I thought it was the end, we were had
Then a bullet with my name on it came buzzing through a bush
And that big marine, he just swat it with his hand
Just like it was a fly
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
Things are never quite the way they seem
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
This was an awfully strange marine
And I knew there was something weird about him
Cus when I turned around he was pulling a big palm tree
Right up out of the ground and swatting those Charlies with it
From the here to Kingdom come
When he lead me out the danger, I saw my camp and waved goodbye
He just winked at me from the jungle and then was gone
And when I got back to my H.Q. I told them about my night
And the battle I'd spent with a big marine named Camouflage
When I said his name, a soldier gulped and a medic took my arm
And led me to a green tent on the right
He said, "You may be telling true boy, but this here is Camouflage
And he's been right here since he passed away last night
In fact he's been here all week long"
But before he went he said, "Semper Fi", and said his only wish
Was to save a young marine caught in a barrage
So here, take his dog tag son, I know he'd want you to have it now
And we both said a prayer for a big marine named Camouflage
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
Things are never quite the way they seem
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
This was an awfully big marine
Things are never quite the way they seem
Woohoohoohoo Camouflage
This was an awfully big marine
Read the next article in the series or hear the next song in the series.
For the index of all songs in this blog click here.
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