YOUR FRIENDLY VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
I volunteered to go and fight
On Indo-China's shore.
But, my friend Death is back again,
And I'm insane once more.
The ghosts keep coming from the past,
And memory haunts me still.
But the V.A. won't help a vet,
And likely never will.
I could never keep a job,
Nor could I keep my wife.
But if I go on hiding out,
Then I'll soon lose my life.
Here, I'll lie upon the floor,
Blood oozing from my brain.
I went to the V.A. for help.
But it was all in vain.
There's trouble deep inside of me
That just won't go away.
But veterans can not get help
From their friendly V.A.!
Words and Music
©Copyright January 26, 1984 by John Robert Mallernee
Author’s Note: I composed this song in 1984 in Salt Lake City, Utah during one of my fits of depression and frustration, and after singing it, I was hospitalized for psychiatric observation. Golly gee, I wonder why?
This is another one of those songs that I haven't sung in so many years, that I've forgotten the original melody. As you know, I don't read or write music, so the tunes I compose remain in my head, and if I don't practice the songs, I forget the music.