There was a decorated General with a heart of gold
That likened him to all the stories he told
Of past battles won and lost and legends of old
A seasoned veteran in his own time
On the battlefield he gained respectful fame
With many medals of bravery and stripes to his name
He grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face
And always urged his men on
But on the eve of a great battle with the infantry in dream
The Old General tossed in his sleep and wrestled with the screaming
He awoke from the night to tell what he had seen
And walked slowly out of his tent
All the men held tall with their chests in the air
With the courage in their blood and a fire in their stare
It was a gray morning and they all wondered how they would fare
Till the old general told them to go home
He said: I have seen the others
And I have discovered
That this fight is not worth fighting
And I've seen their mothers
And I will no other, to follow me where I'm going
So...
Take a shower, shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living...
Take a shower, shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Go now, you are forgiven
But the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders
Not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders
The General said he would do his own duty but he would extend it no further
The men can go as they pleased
Not a man moved their eyes gazed straight ahead
Till one by one they stepped back and not a word was said
And the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head
He then prepared to fight
He said: I have seen the others
And I have discovered
That this fight is not worth fighting
No, and I've seen their mothers
And I will no other
To follow me where I'm going
So...
Take a shower shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living, yeah
Take a shower shine your shoes
You got no time to lose
You are young men you must be living
Go now, you are forgiven
Yeah, yeah
Ohh ha
Yeah
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Oh... yeah
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go ohh
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you gotta be, gotta be, gotta be, gotta behave