He grew up right in this neighborhood   He was on his way to going far   He could throw a ball like no one   He was gonna be a football star      And when he had a chance to travel   And go to a far-off shore   He packed his bags and went   Away to fight the war      And you can see him in the alley    With a bottle in his hand   Ready at attention    For an officer's command      He's waiting for a discharge    But it never seems to come   Used to be a soldier,    Now he's a soldier on the bum      He was proud to be a Navy Seal   To be part of the team   Following the dictates   Of this American dream      He threw boys out of airplanes   To combat the commie threat   Now he spends each day   Just trying to forget      And you can see him in the alley    With a bottle in his hand   Ready at attention    For an officer's command      He's waiting for a discharge    But it never seems to come   Used to be a soldier,    Now he's a soldier on the bum      And some days when the vodka   Can't keep the visions from his thoughts   Of the horror he has seen   And the terror he has wrought      He limps up and down the sidewalk   Yells out all the has to say   But the empty storefronts do not listen   And all the people turn away      And you can see him in the alley    With a bottle in his hand   Ready at attention    For an officer's command      He's waiting for a discharge    But it never seems to come   Used to be a soldier,    Now he's a soldier on the bum