I met a young soldier
He said his name was Killer Kyle
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1marine.jpg)
He was shakin' all over
Like a night-frightened child
This is his story
It's a tough one for me to sing
Hard as the squawk and the flap
And the beat of the beat of black wings
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1heli.jpg)
"They gave me a gun" he said
"They gave me a mission
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1mission.jpg)
For the power and the glory
Propaganda-- piss on 'em
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1evil.jpg)
There's a war zone inside me
I can feel things exploding
I can't even hear the fucking music playing
For the beat of the beat of black wings"
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/11heli.jpg)
He said "I never had nothin'
Nothin' I could believe in
My girl killed our unborn child
Without even grievin
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1sleep.jpg)
I put my hands on her belly
To feel the kid kickin' damn!
She'd been to some clinic
Oh the beat of black wings"
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1crows.jpg)
"They want you they need you
They train you to kill
To be a pin on some map
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/AALLCASUALTIESINONEPOSTER.jpg)
Some vicarious thrill
The old hate the young
That's the whole heartless thing
The old pick the wars
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1criminals.jpg)
We die in 'em
To the beat of the beat of black wings"
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1day08grave.jpg)
There's a man drawing pictures
On the sidewalk with chalk
Just as fast as he draws 'em
Rain come down and wash 'em off
"Keep the drinks comin' girl
'Til I can't feel anything
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1hurting.jpg)
I'm just a chalk mark in a rainstorm
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1scream_door_WM.jpg)
I'm just the beat of black wings
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/plastic_turkeys/1ah64crash01.jpg)
--Joni Mitchell