I Am the Unknown Soldier
Carl Klang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some call me M.I.A.
Some say I can’t go home again
Some say I chose to stay
I am the unknown soldier
Who you refuse to know
A brother and a friend of yours
Who left so long ago
The one they left behind
I am the unknown soldier
The one they never tried to find
I’m the one they never tried to find
I’m a farmer from Missouri
The soldier from St. Paul
I was the hero of my family
And still my picture’s upon their wall
I’m a poet and a scholar
And the boy who lived next door
I am the unknown soldier
Forgotten on a foreign shore
Long forgotten on a foreign shore
I was someone’s lovin’ daddy
I was someone’s pride and joy
I was someone’s tender lover
A worried Mama’s little boy
And if you should just forget me here
Then should I forget you too
Please won’t you try to bring me home
For I’m someone who belongs to you
I’m still someone who belongs to you
I am the unknown soldier
With no more tears to shed
I’m just a fading memory
A part of the living dead
My country has betrayed me
Yet I have forgiven you
And every night I pray to God
That somehow he’ll forgive you too
Yes even somehow he’ll forgive you too
I am the unknown soldier
The one for whom you cried
That familiar face that you can’t face
The one your country told you died
I am the unknown soldier
With dreams you’ll rescue me
And I am a man who understands
Only death might ever set me free
Only death might ever set me free
I am the unknown soldier
And I’m black and blue and gray
I said I am the unknown soldier
And I die slowly every day
And I’m tired and I’m hungry
And I’m lonely and I’m cold
I am the unknown soldier
The one you bought and sold
I’m the one you bought and sold
So lay down close beside me now
And gently stroke my face
And wrap your arms around me now
Before we leave this place
Some called me P.O.W.
Some called me M.I.A.
Some say I can’t come home again
But I will return someday
The lyrics of Carl Klang's "I Am the Unknown Soldier" tell the story of a soldier who has been forgotten by his country and loved ones. The soldier is referred to as the "unknown soldier" because his identity and whereabouts are unknown, and no one has made an effort to find him. At the beginning of the song, he is described as someone who is M.I.A. (Missing in Action) or P.O.W. (Prisoner of War). Some people believe that he cannot go back home while others think that he chose to remain in his current state. Throughout the song, the unknown soldier shares his story and reminds the listener that he is not just a statistic but was someone's father, son, daughter, or friend who is missed dearly.
The soldier is described as a farmer from Missouri and a poet and a scholar who was also someone's loving daddy, pride, and joy. He was someone's tender lover and a Mama's little boy. He was a hero to his family, but now he's forgotten on a foreign shore. He is the one who was betrayed by his country, sold like a commodity, and nobody came to rescue him. He's just a fading memory and a part of the living dead. Despite all these hardships, he has forgiven his country and prays to God to forgive them as well.
The last stanza of the song is a plea to the listener to lay close beside the unknown soldier and wrap their arms around him before they leave this place, acknowledging that the unknown soldier is slowly dying every day. The soldier hopes to return someday, despite the possibility that it may not happen.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the unknown soldier
I am an unnamed and unrecognized military individual
Some call me M.I.A.
Some refer to me as missing in action
Some say I can’t go home again
Some believe that I cannot return to my home country
Some say I chose to stay
Some people claim that I decided to remain where I was
Who you refuse to know
You have chosen to remain oblivious to me and my existence
A brother and a friend of yours
I am your countryman, a comrade, and an ally
Who left so long ago
I departed a long time back and forgotten about
Some call me P.O.W.
Some label me as a prisoner of war
The one they left behind
I am the one they deserted and abandoned
The one they never tried to find
Nobody made an effort to track me down
I’m a farmer from Missouri
I am a cultivator from Missouri
The soldier from St. Paul
I am the soldier from St. Paul
I was the hero of my family
My family regarded me as a hero
And still my picture’s upon their wall
My family still has my photograph hanging on their wall
I’m a poet and a scholar
I am a literary figure and an intellectual
And the boy who lived next door
I was the boy who resided next door
Forgotten on a foreign shore
I have been ignored and abandoned on a foreign land
I was someone’s lovin’ daddy
I was a father who loved his child
I was someone’s pride and joy
I brought pride and joy to somebody's life
I was someone’s tender lover
I was a gentle and caring partner
A worried Mama’s little boy
I was a mother's little boy whom she worried about
And if you should just forget me here
In case you forget me here and my existence
Then should I forget you too
Will I also forget about you?
Please won’t you try to bring me home
I plead to you to make an effort to bring me back home
For I’m someone who belongs to you
Because I am somebody who belongs to you and your country
With no more tears to shed
I have no more tears to cry
I’m just a fading memory
I am gradually fading from people's memories
A part of the living dead
I am a part of those who are forgotten or dead but still walking
My country has betrayed me
My country has failed me by abandoning, mistreating, or neglecting me
Yet I have forgiven you
Nevertheless, I have absolved you, my country
And every night I pray to God
Every night I implore to God
That somehow he’ll forgive you too
To request God that he will forgive you too in some way
The one for whom you cried
I am the one you mourned for and shed tears for
That familiar face that you can’t face
A recognizable countenance that you can't confront
The one your country told you died
The one that your country announced as dead
With dreams you’ll rescue me
Hoping that you will save me in your dreams
And I am a man who understands
I am an individual who comprehends and empathizes
Only death might ever set me free
Freedom might only come to me after death
And I’m tired and I’m hungry
I am exhausted and starving
And I’m lonely and I’m cold
I am desolate and cold
The one you bought and sold
I am the one you have commodified and abandoned
So lay down close beside me now
Lie down next to me now
And gently stroke my face
Softly caress my face
And wrap your arms around me now
Embrace me now
Before we leave this place
Before we depart from this place
But I will return someday
I will make a comeback someday
Contributed by Molly D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Austn
on I Want To Be An Extremist
Hey man, did you know Carl? I’m interested in learning more about his life and eventual downfall. Please let me know. Thanks!
Mark Reynolds
on I Want To Be An Extremist
I wish that if any money is being made from his music that Sunny gets it. Carl was a great musician but he ws a terrible father. The stories I know about from first hand experience including the time he was arrested that I had to get him out of jail in Harrison Arkansas. It was sad to see such a talented individual fall apart right before our eyes.