From birth to age five
His life’s just begun
The world is his oyster
Full of laughter and fun
He’s playing at soldiers
Hiding behind trees
Ducking and diving
Scuffing his knees

From six to age twelve
He’s off with his mates
Playing out of sight now
From the garden gates
He’s up to all sorts
But nothing too bad
Just being mischievous
A typical lad

A teenager now
The arguments begin
He’s pushing the limits
He thinks he can win
Parents know nothing
They’ve never lived
His words can be hurtful
But we always forgive

Then the day comes
For choices to take
Of his chosen career
What a decision to make
“What shall I do?”
“What can I be?”
“I want to choose something
To make you proud of me”

He thinks and he thinks
Till his mind is sore
Then suddenly one day
Opportunity knocks on the door
A television advert
Come take our test
To see if you are ready
To be one of THE BEST

“That’s it I’ve got it,
That’s what I’ll be!”
“I’ll be a soldier,
I’ll serve my country”
So it’s off to Scotland
He tries his best
To make the selection
Ahead of the rest

Then the day comes
When the letter arrives
He opens it carefully
There’s hope in his eyes
“It’s yes, YES I’ve made it
They want me in”
“And they’ve given me a date
When I can begin”

We’re so proud of you son,
We knew you’d get through
Your dreams of being a soldier,
Have finally come true
So much training to do son,
Far away from home
But we’ll always be there for you love,
On the end of the phone

A whole new world now
Has opened for you
Just keep on trying
You’ll make it through
It will not be easy
The training you’ll do
But it’s the only way
To make a Man out of you

Pass out day comes
He’s standing there proud
And looking for his family
Amongst the crowd
The ceremony begins
You can’t help but cry
So proud of your soldier
As he passes by

Then he’s off to Battalion
To his chosen career
He receives word of his posting
This you don’t want to hear
You knew it would happen
But you didn’t want to face
That he’s to be posted
To a sandy place

The day then comes
To say your goodbyes
You’re trying to hide
The tears in your eyes
And so it begins
Months full of worry
You hope and you pray
They pass by in a hurry

A few weeks pass by
You’ve not even heard
A single phone call
Not a single word
You can’t help but worry
You don’t sleep at night
And there on the news
What a terrible sight

The base has been hit
It’s been ‘raining’ all night
Your worries and fears
Turn to panic and fright
You close your eyes
And hold back the tears
As you reminisce
On his childhood years

You think of those soldiers
Who’ve been wounded or fallen
And you pray for peace now
For those poor lives that are stolen
You think of the families
Of the heartache they bear
And you cannot help it
Their sorrow you share

You pray for his safety
For his mates as well
They shouldn’t be there
In that place of hell
Then at last he’s calling
From out of the blue
You thank God they’re ok
Your prayers they’ve come true

He’ll be home soon now
From that sandy place
And you cannot wait
To see his smiling face
When the day comes
He seems much older
But you hug and you kiss him
Your brave little soldier

So to all of our soldiers
Wherever you are
We stand and salute you
Our shining stars
You fight for our freedom
Being honest and true
And we just want to say that
WERE SO PROUD OF YOU