too long a soldier lyrics

We were the children of '45
Loaded like pistols and taught how to die
We looked the enemy straight in the eye
(And never surrender)

Through trenches dug in the back of my mind
I go over the top time after time
Me and the ones we left behind faces
(I'll always remember)

Now there's no fight left within me, but the writing of this wrong
As nations we're divided, but as people we are one
Like brothers in blood it seems that we've been too long a soldier

In the city of monuments, among the flags of all governments
The order of battle is written in the shadows of a hard black line
Where people cry for a nations scars
And heroes sleep beneath a blanket of stars
Too young to die, but never too old to play the general's game

Now there's no life left within them, but the memory lingers on
As nations we're divided, but as people we are one
For brothers in blood we sing that we've been too long a soldier

Eternal flames blow in the wind, I've been too long a soldier
Captain of the guard I'm coming in, too long, too long a soldier
I've seen so much worth dying for, so little worth killing over, hey

Eternal flames blow in the wind, I've been too long a soldier
Captain of the guard I'm coming in, too long, too long a soldier
I've seen so much worth dying for, so little worth killing over
Soldiers gone before me, I will surely fade away

My eyes have seen the glory, and the suffering and the pain
I've been too long a soldier, too long, too long a soldier
I've been too long a soldier

(Too long a soldier)
Eternal flames blow in the wind
(Too long a soldier)
My eyes have seen the glory of
(Too long a soldier)
Oh, say can you see by the dawns early light, ooh, ooh