– Created During the 6994th Reunion, 6 September, 2019, at “Welcome to 1979” Recording Studio, Nashville, TN.
Epic Ride:
A Tribute To The 6994th
Music & Orchestration by: Cory Hayward
Lyrics by: Cory & Lisa Hayward
& the Members of the 6994th
PART I: “Crazy Ride”
[Ditty Bop, Ditty Bop]
We Gotta Get Outta This Place
No matter what it takes
[“Tan Son Nhut“]
We do what we’re told
We know what’s at stake
[“Hue Phu Bai”]
But thoughts of home are never more than a letter away
Oh, yeah
We Gotta Get Outta This Place
In just one piece
[“Nha Trang”]
The Back-Ender’s mission is to listen carefully
[“Pleiku”]
Heat, cold, and exhaustion are just ways of life
Sometimes
We think that life’s got us beat
That we’re all alone
Our hearts turned to stone
But when we see buddies by our sides
We pull ourselves up and get back on this crazy ride
We Gotta Get Outta This Place
No matter what it takes
[ “Nakhon Phanom, Royal Thai AFB”]
We feel bulletproof
We bend but won’t break
[“Phu Cat”]
At least we feel that way 23 hours a day
Oh, yeah
We Gotta Get Outta This Place
In just one piece
[“Da Nang”]
We party hard, maybe just one more drink
[“Ubon, Thailand”]
Gambling, joking, talking with the guys
Drinking, laughing, chatting with my friends
PART II: “Awesome Ride”
Many hold these ghosts of war in Holy Silence
Carry them to the grave, finding dignity in sorrow
There were no crowds cheering
On the days that we returned
Even though we sacrificed everything for freedom
Unarmed, Alone, and Unafraid
I don’t wanna forget these times
Pride in accomplishments, secret memories
Officially denied
Brothers by my side
An amazing ride
[“Raymond F. Leftwich * Charles D. Land * Daniel C. Reese
Frederick T. Sebers * Louis J. Clever * James V. Dorsey
Hugh L. Sherburn * Rodney H. Gott * Clarence L. McNeill
Elmore L. Hall * Michael L. Stiglich * Michael R. Conner
John W. Ryon * Todd M. Melton * Joseph A Matejov
Peter R. Cressman * Dale Brandenburg”]
Unarmed, Alone, and Unafraid
Would we do it all again?
Aftermath of missions, never learned
Broken steps to normal life
Keeping it inside
An amazing ride
Finding our way home
No longer alone
On this amazing ride
PART III: “The Ride Continues”
I can hardly remember my life without you
So far from home
So lonely
I never said, but you knew
Everything was different
My head spinning around
When I stopped to look
Your hand was out
Like you were waiting just for me
You’re my inspiration
When days seem long
When I think of you
I remember my hopes and my dreams
When I’m lost and wandering
You help me find my way
Where would I be?
Tell me, where would I be?
I just wouldn’t be without you
The moment I lost you
It broke my heart
Every word you said went straight
From your head to my heart
You never tried to misguide me
You always knew what was inside of me
And times they change
But just not you and me
Copyright (c) 2019 Rich & Cindy Krejsa