Album: Appeal to Reason (2008)

License This Song 

• He said son, have you seen the world?
  Well, what would you say if I said that you could
  Just carry this gun, you'll even get paid
  I said that sounds pretty good
  
  Black leather boots
  Spit-shined so bright
  They cut off my hair but it looked alright
  We marched and we sang
  We all became friends
  As we learned how to fight
  
  A hero of war
  Yeah that's what I'll be
  And when I come home
  They'll be damn proud of me
  I'll carry this flag
  To the grave if I must
  Cause it's a flag that I love
  And a flag that I trust
  
  I kicked in the door
  I yelled my commands
  The children, they cried
  But I got my man
  We took him away
  A bag over his face
  From his family and his friends
  
  They took off his clothes
  They pissed in his hands
  I told them to stop
  But then I joined in
  We beat him with guns
  And batons not just once
  But again and again
  
  A hero of war
  Yeah that's what I'll be
  And when I come home
  They'll be damn proud of me
  I'll carry this flag
  To the grave if I must
  Cause it's a flag that I love
  And a flag that I trust
  
  She walked through bullets and haze
  I asked her to stop
  I begged her to stay
  But she pressed on
  So I lifted my gun
  And I fired away
  
  And the shells jumped through the smoke
  And into the sand
  That the blood now had soaked
  She collapsed with a flag in her hand
  A flag white as snow
  
  A hero of war
  Is that what they see?
  Just medals and scars
  So damn proud of me
  And I brought home that flag
  Now it gathers dust
  But it's a flag that I love
  The only flag that I trust
  
  He said, son, have you seen the world?
  Well what would you say, if I said that you could? Writer/s: BRANDON BARNES, JOSEPH PRINCIPE, TIMOTHY MCILRATH, ZACH BLAIR
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

• Aaron L Springer from Fort Meade MarylandRan uoib this song today while working out and it touched me deeply. Asa vet with 7 deployments under his belt I believe this may be one of the best, most accurate war song made.
• Ziem86 from FranceIt is an anti-war song. But being anti-war doesn't mean being anti-military, and even being anti-military doesn't mean being anti the men and women serving under it. And I believe this song is very much about that : military men and women are human. They have a soul, a heart, an history, they have principles, orders, and they are fallible like any other human. At the end of the day, most of them are more damaged by the war, than the damage they actually or allegedly cause themselves, or as a group. It's a beautiful song, full of meaning and love, and respect. I'm glad I heard that song in my life.
• Ben from DetroitIraq war vet. I cried at the last verse. Also noticed the upside down flag as the soldier was in distress. Until I looked it up, I honestly thought the song writer was an actual vet himself.
• Bob from Merced, CaThis is a song about war - every war that has taken place between whenever and now, where they sent young men into battle to kill and see their friends die. I will not look with scorn at boys who have in war committed such atrocities. War is hell and a state of humanity that I hope my children will never have to witness.
• Walter from Morrisville, NyIf you ever truly listen to this song it will probably make you cry if you have been in the service.
• Andrew from Elizabeth, NjThe song is awesome... except for the fact that they portray all soldiers as war criminals. That is absolutely not the case. US soldiers do what they are told and they are only told to capture/kill people who pose a threat to them, our country, or our country's intrests. Portraying a US soldier as someone who will brutally attack an innocent civilian in his home is horrible.
• Josh from Trenton, Ilreally opens your eyes on the soldiers perspective. He comes home a hero, but he knows in his mind hes not, hes just another man that had to do his job.
• Kayla from El Paso, Txthis song is a sad song but is so moving sometimes its true that the soldiers right did that in war but i thank them for going out there and fight for us so thank you to all the soldiers out there
• Sonu from Temecula, Ca..such a good song..but at the same time, its really depressing
• Oliver from Atlanta, GaThis is an amazing, moving, and sad song
• Shane from Valrico, FlAs I have been to Iraq twice I can understand and appreciate what this song says. It's not an anti-war song. The song is meant to depict what military personell have been and do go through and what we have to live with after the fact. It is a PTSD based song and shows and tells the horrors that service members who have actually seen combat go through. Most military do not want to go out and kill and thats what the deal is with the backwards flag is to show that he himself is in distress with the whole thing.
• Andy from Tustin, MiI think this song is about the experince of combat. Its abouta man who joined the army cause he feels he needs to defend his country and it will make people proud of him. He is sent out to iraq and as it progresses he meats a women who he realy likes who tries to surrender and he knows the insurgens will kill her and he dosent want her to die but knows she will so he fells he needs to be the one to do it. Those are just my thoughts.
• Mike from Quakertown, PaEven if the flag upside down isn't a sign of protest, the song is still a protest against war. This is a anti-war song. It's talking about how soldiers come home with PTSD, and it's a sarcastic tone towards war and the military.
• Kevinthedonkey from Philadelphia, AndorraSomeone made a statement earlier about at 2 min 30 sec when the flag is flown upside down.
  This is a sign of distress. Be it the flag is flown upside down from a pole or on their wall, or if us soldiers turn it upside down on our arms, all it means is a sign of distress. It is not a form of protest whatsoever.
• Alec from Chicago, IlCorrection: the post would actually be down instead of above lol.
  
  Also, there seems to be a battle going on in which he fights to stay patriotic, if you will, and the breaking point is actually when the woman drops the white flag.
  
  I'm over-thinking this (I think HA) because it's pretty obvious since the chorus changes but I'm still glad I pointed it out for people to notice. This song is so much like a poem it's crasi.
• Alec from Chicago, IlAlso to portray the 'tongue-in-cheek protest tone' as written about above, at the end of the song he changes 'the only flag he trusts' from the American flag to the white flag (symbolizing peace) after he kills the woman carrying it.
  
  I guess you really have to get into the 'story line' of the song to pick this up haha.
  
  This is obviously sort of debatable but it seems to make sense to me. Great song!
• Dan from Allen Park, Mi2 minutes and thirty three seconds into the music video of this song a soldier is shown doing pull-ups, with an upside down flag on the wall to his left, this is a symbol to portray the almost tounge-in-cheek protest tone of this song.
• Fernando from Porterville, CaThis is truly amazing
• Riley from Saskatoon, Skthis song is awesome!!!

More Songfacts:

That'll Be The DayBuddy Holly

Buddy Holly got the title for his hit song "That'll Be The Day" from a phrase John Wayne repeats in the 1956 movie The Searchers.

Human NatureMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" was written by the keyboard player from Toto, who was working on the Thriller album.

Strawberry Letter 23The Brothers Johnson

"Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson was written by Shuggie Otis, whose girlfriend would send him letters written on strawberry-scented paper.

TodaySmashing Pumpkins

"Today" by Smashing Pumpkins is sarcastic in the line "today is the greatest day." Lead singer Billy Corgan wrote it about the crippling depression he was battling following the band's first big tour.

Shine On You Crazy DiamondPink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is about their founding member Syd Barrett, who became an acid casualty. Notice the S-Y-D in the title.

I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas

Will.I.am, literally dreamt up "I Gotta Feelin'." Said the Black Eyed Pea: "Have you ever had a dream where there's a melody in your dream? I'll wake up out of my sleep and record that! 'I Gotta Feelin' was one of those songs."

Editor's Picks

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.