Sawdust Saloon-The Low Anthem

1971, hung up a chicken bone On the old chandelier at the sawdust saloon The medical exam had cleared me to fight My mother said stay and I thought that I might My brother said stay that's when I left Never know who might be called in your stead So I showed up on time to meet my platoon And hung up a bone in the sawdust saloon With Jimmy Tassone, I used to play ball Now he sits here beside me and talks like a man He looks like a man, says he shoots like a man But no medal of honor will make his Mom move back in So he said my drunk father, I'll be back for you soon But Jimmy still hangs in the sawdust saloon And I love my country with a deep frenzied love Her legs spread out wide her nose turned up So I showed up on time to meet my platoon And hung up a bone in the sawdust saloon The candle in the window, the coin in the well The break in your voice, the crack in the bell All raise up a round, without saying a word To them old dusty bones and the good men that served