Between The Lines
Chuck Ragan Lyrics

I see the fire through the trees
I can see the devastation around me, the destruction of war is clear through the trees.

Hear the hollers through the breeze
I can hear the sounds of people crying out in pain and desperation carried on the wind.

Drowning out the season like there's none
The sounds of war have become so dominant that they have taken over and rendered insignificant the changing of the seasons around us.

Hold the blue steel in my hands
I am holding a gun, a tool of destruction and death.

Moving my feet over land
I am walking through a warzone, navigating the uneven terrain with caution and vigilance.

While I'm thanking God I've got a gun
I am grateful for the weapon that I wield that can offer some protection in this dangerous environment.

Nothing like a war at hand
Being in the middle of a war is like nothing else, it is an experience that cannot be replicated.

To turn a boy into a man
This experience can be transformative, forcing young boys to become men quickly and learn how to survive in incredibly challenging circumstances.

Learnin bout surviving on the run
I am learning how to stay alive and evade danger while on the move, never knowing what may be around the next corner.

Dodging whistles in the dark
I am trying to avoid the sounds of bullets whistling through the air as I traverse the darkness of night.

Walkin soft and hiding sparks
I am walking quietly, staying low to the ground, and avoiding any sparks or flashes of light that could give away my position.

Prayin bullets find another home
I am hoping that the bullets flying through the air will hit somewhere or someone else, but knowing that it could just as easily be me.

Oh here we go, another stand you know.
This experience of fighting is not new, it is a recurring occurrence.

Carry on, carry strong, and pray that we don't fall between the lines.
We must continue fighting bravely and with determination, always hoping that we can avoid being killed or captured by the enemy.

I was born with a choice
As a human being, I was born with free will and the ability to make decisions.

Fight for freedom or fight the tours
I can choose to fight for my country and its ideals, or to take part in a military campaign abroad.

Either way the fighting never ends
Regardless of the nature of the fight, it is unlikely to ever truly be resolved or ended.

Stuck in mud in no mans land
I may find myself immobilized in the middle of a warzone, unable to move freely or easily.

Or resting easy in the sands smelling that
Alternatively, I may be stationed somewhere, seemingly safer, but still surrounded by the ominous reality of war.

Great ocean in the wind
I may be located near the sea, the wind carrying the scent of salt and possibility towards me.

Oh here we go, another stand you know.
Once again, we find ourselves preparing for battle, as we have countless times before.

Carry on, carry strong, keep surviving keeping on.
We must be resilient and continue on, no matter how difficult it may be.

What a rush oh what a ride either way I fall between the lines.
This experience is overwhelming, it is a thrilling and terrifying ride, and regardless of the outcome, I risk falling between the lines of life and death.

Oh please mama here my distant call
As I fight in a distant land, I long for the comfort and support of my mother.

This may be my last stand after all
I am aware that this could very well be my final battle, my last chance to fight for my country and my life.

So if the night comes and I fall
If I am killed in battle, and the darkness of night falls, I ask for my loved ones to remember me.

Somewhere in the dark I ask
In the unknowable darkness of death, I plead for solace and comfort.

Know for greater good I gave my all
I hope that my sacrifice, though devastating for my loved ones, will have ultimately contributed to the greater good.

Give the ones I know my love
I ask that my family and friends know how much I loved them, even as I fought in a distant land.

Tell them I was worth the blood
I hope that my life, and the blood that was shed in my final moments, was worth it, and that I did something meaningful for my country.

That I shed on grounds far from home
I died on foreign soil, fighting for the values and ideals of my homeland.