He had just turned nineteen yesterday
Wanted to be a school teacher someday
Came from a small and modest town

Had never before traveled abroad

He signed on the promise of a college fund

Pop and Mom begged him to stay at home
The last time they saw him was at an airport
He hugged his distraught mother a final time


He went abroad to serve when he was only nineteen
Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams


He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke

Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on TV names are taken
Mother, Mother

My final transmission

Paris Island was plain hell on earth

Got gunny yelling at him, "better prove your worth"
Moved on to Baghdad about six months on
Caught an IED today, now he is gone


He went abroad to serve when he was only nineteen
Reality caught up with him, stole a heart full of dreams


He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes
Lost them all amidst this war and smoke

Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Watch on TV names are taken
Mother, Mother

My final transmission

Dad and Mom I am your only loving son

Hid a written final transmission under my helmet
Love you both in heart and mind
A better set of parents no boy could ever find

Weep for me and say thy prayers
Remember me through all your years
Only got to serve for six months on and

If you're reading this I have passed and gone

So I harbor my final request

A letter in my memory please send
Off to the President and all his men
Begging him with others to bring the troops back home

He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes
Lost them all amidst the war and smoke
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?

Watch on TV names are taken

He's never gonna get a chance to chase all those hopes

Lost them all amidst this war and smoke
Can you hear the sound of youth negated?
Why are all those young lives taken?

Mother, Mother
My final transmission