Rich Man's War - Steve Earle

Jimmy joined the army 'cause he had no place to go

There ain’t nobody hirin'

'round here since all the jobs went

Down to Mexico

Reckoned that he’d learn himself a trade maybe see the world

Move to the city someday and marry a black haired girl

Somebody somewhere had another plan

Now he’s got a rifle in his hand

Rollin' into Baghdad wonderin' how he got this far

Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war

Bobby had an eagle and a flag tattooed on his arm

Red white and blue to the bone when he landed in Kandahar

Left behind a pretty young wife and a baby girl

A stack of overdue bills and went off to save the world

Been a year now and he’s still there

Chasin' ghosts in the thin dry air

Meanwhile back at home the finance company took his car

Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war

When will we ever learn

When will we ever see

We stand up and take our turn

And keep tellin' ourselves we’re free

Ali was the second son of a second son

Grew up in Gaza throwing bottles and rocks when the tanks would come

Ain’t nothin' else to do around here just a game children play

Somethin' 'bout livin' in fear all your life makes you hard that way

He answered when he got the call

Wrapped himself in death and praised Allah

A fat man in a new Mercedes drove him to the door

Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war