The Great Goodnight-Magellan/Trent Gardner/Joe Franco/Wayne Gardner

I was only four I don't remember you I have seen your pictures my whole life Brother... in this great goodnight. A black frame still protects those two Letters from the President They start out: On this day in May 1966 For wounds received in action Still hanging here after all of this time Right next to your purple heart In this great goodnight. I do have this one hazy memory I think you had me up on your shoulders Playing on top of the world for a moment That couldn't last (it never does) I love this black and white of you Playing the harmonica like a giant at our old house Sitting on that green sofa You were only 19 but to this kid You were probably more like 43. I read an old clipping from the paper It said they prayed for you At the church Now I know everyone In the photograph Long before the memorial rose Looking so much different than today I haven't touched that stone of names But I have a tracing of yours On this day in May 1966 For wounds received in action Still hanging here after all of this time Right next to your purple heart In this great goodnight But for some unknown reason We never discussed it much growing up I pieced together the Whole story out of That old trunk left in the attic You'd been gone only 6 weeks When the Army brass came To the door knocking Breaking the news -breaking our hearts They broke the new to mom She took it worse than anyone She really believed- 'he didn't have to go The draft missed him by a mile' You could have walked away But instead you had your final day in Vietnam When they broke the new to mom All I can say... she took it worse than anyone She really believed he would make it back home 'He didn't have to go to Vietnam' Here is what thay said; They claymore went off and you went down And you would have been ok You would have been all right But they could not get to you The VC were everywhere So the orders came.... We can't pull Jack out For him it's getting late But a hundred men Won't see tomorrow If we don't quietly wait 'We can't pull Jack out'... You knew exactly What was happening -why nobody came You were a good soldier, Keeping still Holding out as long as you did On this day in May 1966... Within an hour you relaxed Somehow everything seemed ok Cause in your soul you knew Your time in Nam had passed away ...my brother. With your shirt wet with blood And your forehead cool You thanked the Lord For this Great Goodnight In this moment of acceptance This Great Goodnight Brought you a peace You'd never known In this Great Goodnight The war raging on In this Great Goodnight .....my brother.... But brother let me tell you It's what I know So maybe one day We can fill in the blanks Until we meet again - brother I'll choose this memory We'll keep remembering What you did In that great goodnight You couldn't hear the medic Yelling in your ear While you dreamed of this Kid back at home Saying pick me up So we can play Brother let me tell you - I remember And I think you made it In that Great Goodnight In fact, it's the only thing I remember From that Great Goodnight Well brother let me tell you... It's what I know. Maybe one day we will Stand together Until we meet again I'll choose this memory And thank you guys For what you did And what you tried to do In this Great Goodnight On this day in May For wounds received in action ...and now I see, my brother This is for you. And someday you will see that this song Was for you, my brother. Now that dat has joined you - I'm sure that he would agree Got a son on my shoulder And lots of work to do, brother. ...like was done with me.