Halfway Up the Pole
A Song for Memorial DayWords and Music by David Underwood (G-C-D-Am-Em)
Its Memorial Day Weekend in America
Warm house, healthy kids, and a little pond in the back yard
War photos in a dusty album prompt my memory
Of the cost of freedom for my family, to laugh, and climb a tree
Chorus:
I want to remember the soldiers that died
The young men left our small town to the sound of mama's cry
And when a few of them, why, they didn't come home
The preacher raised the flag
But only halfway up the pole...
The grown-up man across the street was once a 4-year old (Mom said)
Wave "Bye Bye" to daddy and Uncle Billy in the big gray boat
Uncle Billy returned a year later to our town
He had a neatly folded flag and to the little boy he knelt down...
Bridge:
Your daddy died nobly son in the war and he knew one Truth
His death was not in vain if it meant freedom for your mom and you!
Chorus:
Starbucks and coffee cups, S.U.V. on a camping lake bay
Liberty to worship Jesus in the land of the free and brave
Will we stop long enough to ponder the soldier's blood that was shed?
For a blue and white flag has no freedom
Unless the stripes are also RED