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When Johnny Came Home From War

by Mokai

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about

Unable to sleep one night, I wrote this song about the returning wounded veterans. Seems like a tough road to try to do the right thing, and end up in an ill-conceived war. I sing this in support of those soldiers who have spoken out to inform the public about the plight of the men and women who have been wounded and traumatized in recent military actions.

lyrics

When Johnny Came Home From War
words & music by Mokai

When Johnny came home from war
He wasn't the same anymore
A piece of him stayed on that foreign shore
When Johnny came home from war

When Johnny came home from war
His family gave him love galore
They were so proud of the wounds he bore
When Johnny came home from war

He must have thought it strange
Their lives went on without a change
He sat there by the window
In his wheelchair
Amazed you couldn't even tell
There's a war out there
There's a war out there

When Johnny came home from war
His body broken and sore
And something missing from his core
When Johnny came home from war

His high-school trophies
on the shelf
Telling him something about himself
Like each time his mom forgot
and called him Juan instead of John
And he'd realize all of that is gone
All of that is gone

When Johnny came home from war
He tried to forget the blood and the gore
But he couldn't recall
what they were fighting for
When Johnny came home from war

As for the old men
Gazing down from their satellites
He swore he could feel them peering down
His neck on those long desert nights

He wondered if they ever saw him
and stopped and said
‘Hey, what about that guy,
I wonder if he'll be the next to die?’
Be the next to die
Be the next to die

When Johnny came home from war
His sister left on extended tour
He had to sit and
watch her walk out that door
When Johnny came home from war

Late at night in his bed
The silence ringing in his head
He soaks the sheets with sweat
his jaw clenched tight
And the quiet's way too quiet
as if something’s not right
as if something’s not right
Something’s not right
Something’s not right

When Johnny came home from war

credits

released March 20, 2003

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about

Mokai San Francisco, California

Mokai adds a dose of contemporary attitude to roots music. He's known for his authentic folk-blues picking and eclectic originals.
His guitar style and technique were mentioned in the January 2013 issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
His roots sound and original guitar style echoes his deep connection to the playing of seminal folk artist like Big Bill Broonzy and Dave Van Ronk.
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