Short Memories - Graham Parker/The Small Clubs
They took their kids in their teenage years
Fitted them out with combat gear
Filled their hearts with mortal fear
And sent them away
Some came home their pants in creases
Some came home in bits and pieces
The president made a lot of speeches
And went fishing for the day
They have short memories
They forget it all so quickly
They have short memories now it's gone
They have short memories
It disappears just like quicksilver
They have short memories now it's gone
My Daddy was in Nicosea Egypt and North Korea
He came back to a good career shovelling coal
I was just the village lout
I never got my finger out
I never wanted for anything
Still I broke and entered and stole
They have short memories
They forget it all so quickly
They have short memories now it's gone
They have short memories
It disappears as if you know it
They have short memories now it's gone
You can't stop a train or catch the rain drops
As they come falling
Sure there'll be another war
Sure as sure the call-up will come calling
They took their kids in their teenage years
Gave them a God that they could fear
Said they could kill but not drink beer
And sent them away
Some came back in a body bag
Some came back wrapped in a flags
And on each toe there hung a tag saying
There'll be more someday
They have short memories
They forget it all so quickly
They have short memories now it's gone
They have short memories
It disappears just like quicksilver
They have short memories now it's gone
Now it's gone now it's gone it's gone
It's gone
