In 1971, hung up a chicken bone
On the old chandelier at the sawdust saloon
The medical exam had cleared me to fight
My mother said stay and I thought that I might
My brother said stay that's when I left
'Cause never know who might be called in your stead
So I showed up on time to meet my platoon
And hung up a bone in the sawdust saloon

With Jimmy Tassone, I used to play ball
Now he sits here beside me and talks like a man
He looks like a man, says he shoots like a man
But no medal of honor will make his Mom move back in
So he said my drunk father, I'll be back for you soon
But Jimmy still hangs in the sawdust saloon

And I love my country with a deep frenzied love
Her legs spread out wide her nose turned up
So I showed up on time to meet my platoon
And hung up a bone in the sawdust saloon

The candle in the window, the coin in the well
The break in your voice, the crack in the bell
All raise up a round, without saying a word
To them old dusty bones and the good men that served