Back From Korea - John Mayall

Getting a boat back from out of Korea

I was impatient to go

When you have lived in a tent for so long

Fighting the heat and the snow

Getting so tired of saluting the man

Can’t have a mind of your own

Crossing the days off a calendar sheet

It doesn’t seem real I’m going home

Packing my kitbag to throw on a truck

Never returning no more

Out in the ocean the ship is a toy

Stomach is throwing back food

Hang on the ropes when you’re going on deck

Nothing about it seems good

Then you get to dreaming of where you are going

The storm will be over fore long

Check the horizon to see if it’s changed

Somewhere out there is my home

Give me the papers, where do I sign?

Three years of army is through

Serving your country they tell you is fine

Give you a gun and go kill

But when you come back for civilian work

Sorry your job has been filled

They’re speaking of the glory of the uniform

Smiling and shaking your hand

But when you get released

They turn their backs on you

Something I don’t understand

What does it mean to the ones that stayed home

That you came back from Korea