I wrote this song for Veterans and Soldiers everywhere -- and I thank the men and women of the non-profit organization Full Battle Rattle based in Albuquerque, New Mexico for sharing their experiences and welcoming songwriters to help them tell their stories.

Lyrics

I BROUGHT THE WAR WITH ME
©2015 C. Daniel Boling - Perfectly Stable Music / ASCAP

My mind is a worn out hotel
But every room’s full every night of the year
I really wish I could invite you all in
But there’s no space for any more here

Everything I lived through in Iraq
Inside and outside of the wire
Lives in my head -- wells up in my heart
Gnawing, unquenchable fire

Most of the time I can hold it at bay
Make folks who don’t know me believe I’m OK
I never faced battle completely alone
Till I brought the war with me when I came back home

Innocent trash on the roadside for you
Is a reason to panic for me
Some loser got lazy you figure
I figure it looks like a damn I.E.D.

Must have used up all that courage I had
Over there fighting the war
Back home now lying in my own bed
Can’t walk out my own front door

But most of the time I can hold it at bay
Make folks who don’t know me believe I’m OK
I never faced battle completely alone
Till I brought the war with me when I came back home

I honor my brothers and sisters who fight
We rally to each other’s need
But there is no honor among politicians
Who think every wound has to bleed

I never faced battle completely alone
Till I brought the war with me when I came back home