1967 - Don McLean

In 1967, the draft caught up with me

Me and my pal Joe went off to war

We might find hero’s heaven

But we’d keep the country free

We would surely win just like before

Roy Rogers he was on his horse

And Buck Jones drew his gun

We would surely win of course

When the battle was all done

1967, I came back alone

They brought Joe back in plastic on the plane

1967 seems so long ago

But I can’t forget my friend or ease my pain

His family may forget him

His children may regret him

His wife may find another

And go on

His picture may grow faded

And the world he knew gone jaded

But as long as I shall live I surely know

I never will forget my buddy Joe

In 1967, the war was raging on

Our country was divided and reborn

Though I was back at home, I had never left Saigon

'Cause all I got was ridicule and scorn

This was no place for hero’s now

They all seemed to resent me

They said, «Why did you ever go?»

I said, «Because they sent me»

1967, they buried my friend Joe

And I was flashing back while people wept

I thought of how he saved us

And I watched the land-mine blow

And I looked down at his dog-tag that I kept

You’ll always be a young man

You always will be smiling

You always will be confident and true

Your picture may grow faded

And the world you knew gone jaded

But as long as I shall live I surely know

I never will forget my buddy Joe

Long as I shall live I surely know

I never will forget you buddy Joe