Lyrics

Was born, Jeremy Hinzman, Rapid City.
South Dakota, I still miss you.
I bought war cards as a kid.
I never knew mom or why she did what she did.
I went to Fort Bragg, Benning, too.
Yeah, we don’t know why we do what we do,
It’s just: breathe, trigger, squeeze.

I was trained to kill, Kill we will,
In the 82nd Airborne we exceed the
Standard! (of soldiering).
And my hands they’d shake with adrenaline.
We’d shoot at circles until they grew legs,
Six weeks later we’d be shooting at men –
Just: breathe, trigger, squeeze.
Yeah, I could shoot 36 out of 40.
O, but I’m not studying war no more,
No, I’m not going back to Rapid City.

We left Anzio Base Housing
With the dishes in the sink, Nga, and Liam.
I’m a bike courier in Toronto now,
I got a secret that I can’t tell.
My conscience is making me a criminal.
And my hands, they shake with the Peridol.
I asked Allah and I asked God’s Son:
‘What’s freedom worth if it’s bought with a gun?’
And: breathe, trigger, squeeze,
A voice inside of me
Said, ‘I’m not studying war no more
No, I’m not going back to Rapid City.’

Was born, Jeremy Hinzman, Rapid City.
South Dakota, I still miss you.