If Not Me

He said: mama I know you have

a lot of plans for me

College in the fall,

hey I'm almost eighteen

I've been doing lots of thinking

about a lot of stuff

Went down to the recruiter today

and I signed up

If not there, then where

If not now, then when

If not this, then what else can I defend

Being gone and being scared

What else can I do

If not me mama

If not me then who

He's upstairs shaving

His cloth is starched and pressed

I'm down here praying, my mind is a mess

I asked：Where you got, these crazy ideas anyway

He just smiled and says:

It's the way that I was raised

If not there, then where

If not now, then when

If not this, then what else can I defend

Being gone and being scared

What else can I do

If not me daddy

If not me then who

We wait for his letters, emails and satellite calls

Then the politics,

That's number 84 wide receiver for the Wildcats

Whose pictures is hanging in my home

Next to the soldier standing proud and tall

He said:

If not there, then where

If not now, then when

If not this, then what else can I defend

Being gone and being scared

What else can I do

If not me dear God

If not me then who