[Cadence]
I don`t know what I left (I don`t know what I left)
But I know it won`t be long (But I know it won`t be long)
No it won`t be long (No it won`t be long)
`Till I get back home
They gave me a green uniform and black boots for my feet
Eighteen and wild as hell, I thought it would be neat
They put me on a plane to some strange and foreign land
I said good-bye to mom and dad and hello to Uncle Sam
[Chorus]
Once I was a soldier and not afraid to die
Now I`m a little older and not afraid to cry
Everyday I`m thankful just to be alive
When you`ve been where I`ve been any kind of life
Is pradise
Christmas of eighty-nine was a lonely time for me
Panama was probably fine but it was nothing like Tennessee
I never thought the day would come when I might have to kill a man
I did not sleep a wink that night but we won for Uncle Sam
[Chorus]
Once I was a soldier and not afraid to die
Now I`m a little older and not afraid to cry
Everyday I`m thankful just to be alive
When you`ve been where I`ve been any kind of life
Is pradise
If you`ve been where I`ve been any kind of life
Is paradise
It`s paradise
Paradise