(Steve Earl)

I'm an American, boys, and I've come a long way,


Born and bred in the USA


So listen up close, I've got something to say

Boys, I'm buying this round


Well it took a little while, but we're in this fight


And we ain't going home 'til we've done what's right

We're gonna drink Camden Town dry tonight,


If I have to spend my last pound



When I first got to London it was pourin' down rain


Met a little girl in the field canteen

Painted her name on the nose of my plane


Six more missions, I'm gone


Well I asked if I could stay and she said that I might

Then the warden came around yelling "Turn out the lights"


Death rainin' out of the London night


We made love 'til dawn



[Chorus:]

But when Johnny Come Lately comes marching home


With a chest full of medals and a G.I. loan


They'll be waitin' at the station down in San Antone

When Johnny comes marching home



My P-47 is a pretty good ship


And she took a round comin' cross the channel last trip


I was thinkin' 'bout my baby and letting her rip

Always got me through so far


Well they can ship me all over this great big world


But I'll never find nothing like my North End girl

I'm taking her home with me one day, sir


Soon as we win this war



[Chorus]



Now my grandaddy sang this song


Told me about London when the Blitz was on

How he married grandma and brought her back home


A hero thoughout his land


Now I'm standing on a runway in San Diego

A couple Purple Hearts and I move a little slow

There's nobody here, maybe nobody knows


About a place called Vietnam


[Chorus]