AWOL

[Intro]
And you don't hear none of those stations, for hip-hop and R&B playin' him, ask why
In fact, where are those stations today?
Somebody better ask somebody that
The people that's most affected, by this war
Are the so-called hip-hop generation

[Interlude 1: Recruiter]
The Army is the best kept secret in the whole world
That every soldier gets his or her own private room
You can forget that old brown boot image of the Army
It's a job like anything else, you'd love it, all the soldiers do

[Verse 1]
I remember how it started, remember the time
I was watchin' Rap City 'bout a quarter to nine
Commercial said the military givin' money for school
Caught the bus up to my campus, they were signin' recruits
And met this dude named Diablo (Hello), was some kind of vet ('Sup?)
He explained the situation told me what to expect, he said
(Now we'll help you pay for college and train you for work)
Said I could take computer classes and could quit if I want
But best of all was the fact I'd have my own shit
I'd have my own space and have my own place to kick it
On top of that I'd travel, and visit the world
Hell, Diablo said the women overseas was the pearl
Didn't even call my girl, let's get it on fo' sho'
Signed my name, took some tests, and I was outta the do'
A true soldier for America, ready to go
On the road a vacation'll be good for the soul

[Chorus]
Don't matter what they sayin' now
They lyin' what they say fo' sho'
They don't play when it come to war
They get down, they get down, they get down

[Verse 2]
I showed up at basic training, but what a mistake
Cause this motherfucker yellin at me all in my face
In this dirty-ass latrine, fifty men in a room
Runnin' laps up in the mud at four o'clock in the morning
I'm scrubbin' toilets, doin' laundry, and feelin' the pain
If I didn't know no better, I'd think "Boy" was my name
Same bullshit line so many bit 'fore me
Got a nigga twisted up in this illusion of freedom
Fuck this shit, I'm out tomorrow, made up my mind
Everything Diablo said I'm findin' out was a lie
That's when my unit got the call, the Commander in Chief
Wanted ground troop assignments keeping peace in the East
What a relief, I'm thinkin finally somethin new
Shipped us off and twenty hours later, we was en route
Touched down around eleven, the desert was brutal
Then the ground split and caught us by surprise from the shootin'

[Interlude 2]
"Engage! Engage! Open fire!"
"Take cover! Take cover!"
"Get down! Fire!"

[Chorus]
Don't matter what they sayin' now
They lyin' what they say fo' sho'
They don't play when it come to war
They get down, they get down, they get down
Don't matter what they sayin' now
They lyin' what they say fo' sho'
They don't play when it come to war
They get down, they get down, they get down

[Verse 3]
It was all surreal, seen 'em blow the spine out his back
In the minefield, we was reelin' from the attack
Seen the MO's hand upon the receiver, still attached
With an alarm on it, set off the beacon, then I mashed
Who the first truck, blood and guts splash in my face
Cuttin' kids down, couldn'ta been no older than eight
What the fuck is goin' on, who we fightin' and why
Killin' kids, killin' killers, who the fuck is supplyin'?
I'm cryin' out for protection, but none of it came
So I dumped in all directions 'til the heater was drained
But that night vision shit wasn't helping us win
Caught a round of friendly fire, but it wasn't so friendly
We simply got lucky, headed back to the base
Seen a soldier rape a woman, shot her dead in the face
Guts stuck to my clothes, body parts galore
If this a peacekeepin' mission, I ain't ready for war
And now I'm back home bitter, and sick and contagious
And I'm knowin' we some bullies, that's why everyone hate us
Still broke than a motherfucker, niggas is starvin'
And that job trainin' shit is only good for the Army
I guess I should have been a CO, and kept up a file
Shoulda listened when my homies said we murder for oil
Now I'm fuckin' with this wheelchair, ain't nothin' the same
And I'm knowin' confrontation's mo' than video games
War is pain