Does the Lord need a soldier   with boots upon the ground   standing firm behind his gun   when duty makes not a sound   figthing for his buddies    and for his hatred of war   so others can lay their heads down   and dream forever more      Gino won't you say the pledge of allegiance   won't you lead us one more time   may your hand be steady and your heart still strong   and may your strength be mine   may your strength be mine      Does the Lord need a soldier   from a boy into a man   and back again according   to someone else's plan   does blood spilled on battlefields   on European soil   cause faith to press back inward   like a rifle shot's recoil      Gino won't you say the pledge of allegiance   won't you lead us one more time   may your hand be steady and your heart still strong   and may your strength be mine   may your strength be mine      We know the answer to that question   in Gino Merli's eyes   from small town Pennsylvania   where it's still a sin to tell a lie   when Hitler said "who'll stop me?"   Gino said....."it may be true   I may only be a miner's son but   I'll take on the likes of you"      Gino won't you say the pledge of allegiance   won't you lead us one more time   may your hand be steady and your heart still strong   and may your strength be mine      The greatest generation   they've been subsequently called   now blowing away like dry leaves   at the bitter end of fall   with a chestfull of medals   he came home to pray   when the Lord needed a soldier   Gino Merli led the way      Gino won't you say the pledge of allegiance   won't you lead us one more time   may your hand be steady and your heart still strong   and may your strength be mine      We know the answer to that question   in Gino Merli's eyes   from small town Pennsylvania   where it's still a sin to tell a lie   when Hitler said "who'll stop me?"   Gino said....."it may be true   I may only be a miner's son but   I'll take on the likes of you"      Gino won't you say the pledge of allegiance   won't you lead us one more time   may your hand be steady and your heart still strong   and may your strength be mine