Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen
On the road to Basra stood young Lieutenant Jimmy Bly
Detailed to go through the clothes of the soldiers who died
Well, at night he dreams he sees their souls rise
Like dark geese into the Oklahoma sky
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Those who've gone, left their babies brokenhearted
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Raphael Rodriguez was just seven years old
Shot down in a schoolyard by some East Compton Cholo
His mamma cries, "My beautiful boy is dead"
In the hills the self-made men just sigh and shake their heads
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Those who've gone, left their babies brokenhearted
Young lives over before they got started
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Well, tonight as I tuck my own son in bed
All I can think of is what if it would've been him instead
Want to build a wall so high nothing can burn it down
Right here on my own piece of dirty ground
Well, I ply my trade in the land of king dollar
Where you get paid and your silence passes as honor
Where all the hatred and dirty little lies
Well, they're written off the books and into decent men's eyes
Detailed to go through the clothes of the soldiers who died
Well, at night he dreams he sees their souls rise
Like dark geese into the Oklahoma sky
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Those who've gone, left their babies brokenhearted
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Raphael Rodriguez was just seven years old
Shot down in a schoolyard by some East Compton Cholo
His mamma cries, "My beautiful boy is dead"
In the hills the self-made men just sigh and shake their heads
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Those who've gone, left their babies brokenhearted
Young lives over before they got started
This is a prayer for the souls of the departed
Well, tonight as I tuck my own son in bed
All I can think of is what if it would've been him instead
Want to build a wall so high nothing can burn it down
Right here on my own piece of dirty ground
Well, I ply my trade in the land of king dollar
Where you get paid and your silence passes as honor
Where all the hatred and dirty little lies
Well, they're written off the books and into decent men's eyes
more tracks from the album
Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
- Brilliant Disguise
- Two Hearts
- Something in the Night
- Valentine’s Day
- Atlantic City
- Back in Your Arms
- If I Should Fall Behind
- Man at the Top
- State Trooper
- Highway Patrolman
- My Hometown
- Lucky Town
- Thunder Road
- The Promise
- Souls of the Departed
- Ain’t Got You
- E Street Shuffle
- Badlands
- Candy’s Room
- Hungry Heart
- Mansion on the Hill
- Johnny 99
- New York City Serenade
- Bobby Jean
- Streets of Philadelphia
- I’m on Fire
- Better Days
- The River
- Light of Day
- Downbound Train
- Born to Run
- For You
- Working on the Highway
- Pink Cadillac
- Book of Dreams
- Stolen Car
- Secret Garden
From the album
The Paradise Brothers popular songs