In a terminal in Oakland
lies a brown body of a man
Dead at twenty-seven
Dead and gone to Heaven
Killed far away in Viet Nam
So they ship you back to where you came from
Like a dummy you were tucked around in an aeroplane
Back to the hell from which you tried to escape
Back to the so-called free United States..
But, should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
You've never had an old man
and your mother died just trying to keep you alive
Year after year she worked so hard and long
the money she made was never quite enough
What was her reward?
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Welcome home Richard Campos, welcome home
welcome home to a hero's grave
You had died and you had killed and destroyed
now let to be weeping for this Mexican boy
Let America honor his name.
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
They will come Richard Campos, they will come
They will come for your body soon
Your military fathers will pay their respects
They will all come around they'll be looking their best
They will bury you this afternoon.
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
You are dead Richard Campos, you are gone
You are dead and they bid goodbye
But now that you're gone there's a doubt in my mind:
What would it be happened if you never would have died
Would they treat you the same?
Or they'd send you on your way with a medal stuck in your hand
saying: Thank you boy, thank you very much,
you have paid your debt to Uncle Sam.
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being
in this country!
lies a brown body of a man
Dead at twenty-seven
Dead and gone to Heaven
Killed far away in Viet Nam
So they ship you back to where you came from
Like a dummy you were tucked around in an aeroplane
Back to the hell from which you tried to escape
Back to the so-called free United States..
But, should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
You've never had an old man
and your mother died just trying to keep you alive
Year after year she worked so hard and long
the money she made was never quite enough
What was her reward?
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Welcome home Richard Campos, welcome home
welcome home to a hero's grave
You had died and you had killed and destroyed
now let to be weeping for this Mexican boy
Let America honor his name.
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
They will come Richard Campos, they will come
They will come for your body soon
Your military fathers will pay their respects
They will all come around they'll be looking their best
They will bury you this afternoon.
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
You are dead Richard Campos, you are gone
You are dead and they bid goodbye
But now that you're gone there's a doubt in my mind:
What would it be happened if you never would have died
Would they treat you the same?
Or they'd send you on your way with a medal stuck in your hand
saying: Thank you boy, thank you very much,
you have paid your debt to Uncle Sam.
But should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being in this country?
Should a man, should he have to kill
in order to live like a human being
in this country!
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