I got drafted by the Steelers in 1968, got drafted by the Army that same year.
Went from carrying a football to carrying a gun, Charlie Company, 1st Platoon, Grenadier.
Took a bullet in my left leg, crawled for cover 50 yards.
Took some shrapnel in my right, they gave me the Purple Heart.
I came home a hero, they all knew my story, how I fought back to get back in the game.
But most soldiers I know got none of that glory.
No thanks or respect when they step in.
Stopped the plane.
No, we can't change the past, but we can raise up a glass for a toast.
Here's to the scars and the hearts and the names that you don't know.
They came back to their cities.
Little towns and towns.
Family farms.
The only welcome home to sign their model name.
There was no thank you for your service.
No free round at the bar.
And sure as hell no Super Bowl parade.
What a shame.
I came home a hero, you all know my story.
How I fought back to get back in the game.
But most soldiers I know got none of that glory.
No thanks or respect when they step in.
Stopped the plane.
No, we can't change the past, but we can raise up a glass for a toast.
Here's to the scars and the hearts and the names that you don't know.
Well, you know me and Franco and Terry and Mean Joe and all those great names in the hall.
But let's raise one more, make some noise for the names that you don't know at all.
I came home a hero, you all know my story.
How I fought back to get back in the game.
But most soldiers I know got none of that glory.
No thanks or respect when they step in.
Stopped the plane.
Some never came home at all.
They're engraved on a wall made of stone.
Here's to them too, wish you knew all the names that you don't know.
That you don't know
All the names, all the names
All the names you don't know
All the names, too many names
All the names you don't know