The General – Bamboo (originally by Dispatch)

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

But 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 its meaning
He awoke from that 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 a courage in their blood and a fire in their stare
It was a grey 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 and shine your shoes, you got no time to lose
You are young and you must be living
So take a shower and shine your shoes, you got no time to lose
You are young and 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 their contradicting orders
The general said he would do his own duty but he would extend it no further
You can go as you pleased

But 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
And I’ve seen their mothers
And I will no other
To follow me where I’m going

So take a shower and shine your shoes, you got no time to lose
You are young and you must be living
So take a shower and shine your shoes, you got no time to lose
You are young and you must be living
Go now, you are forgiven

Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go

Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go, woah

Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta… yeah
Yeah…”