Dispatch perform's "The General," recorded live at WXPN/World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA for NPR’s World Cafe in 2017.
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LYRICS
there was a decorated general with a heart of gold
that likened him to all the stories he told
of past battles won and lost and legends of old
a seasoned veteran in his own time
on the battlefield he gained respectful fame
with many metals of bravery and stripes to his name
he grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face
and always urged his men on
but on the eve of a great battle with the infantry in dream
the old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning
he awoke from the night just to tell what he had seen
and walked slowly out of his tent
all the men held tall with their chests in the air
with courage in their blood and a fire in their stare
it was a grey morning and they all wondered how they would fare
til the old general told them to go home
I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting
I have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I'm going
take a shower shine your shoes you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living
go now you are forgiven
but the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders
not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders
the general said he would do his own duty bout would not extend it not further
the men could go as they pleased
not a man moved their eyes glazed straight ahead
til one by one they stepped back and not a word was said
and the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head
he then prepared to fight
I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting
I have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I'm going
take a shower shine your shoes you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living
go now you are forgiven
ya got to be got to got be to got to be hey
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