When Johnny finally came home
He wasn't marching there
Just sitting in an ambulance
Alongside his new wheelchair
So its goodbye Johnny to squaddie life
The billet and his mates
They'll miss him for maybe a little while
But fate is fate is fate
There weren't brass bands to meet him
Just his family no more
For Johnny was one of the victims
Of a politicians war
And they will still make their speeches
But they don't care a bit
No blood splashes their tail coats
When a squaddie's hit
And Johnny will get his pension
To go quietly away
To join the vaguely remembered
Every Poppy Day
He'll need to fight for every penny
To just barely survive
For he's embarrassed his leaders
By just being alive
Carry back your shield or be carried on it
Was the ancient Spartan way
Oh how our glorious leaders wish that
Were the creed today
But they will still stand at the Cenotaph
Year after year after year
Shedding politically correct versions
Of crocodile tears
Johnny knows at last
If he never knew before
There aint any glory mates
In going off to war
When Johnny finally came home
He wasn't marching there
Just sitting in an ambulance
Alongside his new wheelchair