I'm sending you these letters
Across miles and miles of water
Tell Stevie that I saw his friend

And the mother that I love her
Well, I know I haven't been here long
And I know it seems much longer

But every letter you write back
Makes me a little stronger
Everybody here has been as many years as me

But only now they realize what they are here to see
So I'll take my pen and I write you a note
And send it off in a letter

And we'll hope that writing my troubles down
Will make me feel better
One step forward and one step left

I raise my gun and I take my aim
I'm just a pawn in the government's game
The first day I was posted

Was the longest I have known
I can't believe the bitterness
The human heart can show

The hatred of another is a blindness in their eyes
All I do is stand between them
Wondering why

One step forward and one step left
I raise my gun and I take my aim
I'm just a pawn in the government's game

Little boy stands with stones in hand
And cold eyes of steel
I wish I could throw my riffle down

And tell them how I feel
Well, I know I haven't been here long
And I know it seems much longer

But every letter you post to me
Makes me a little stronger, stronger