The frost sparkled upon the steel bridge rails
the clatter of trains overhead, their steam whistles wailed
while deep in the shadows beneath the concrete forms
men live in cardboard boxes trying to keep warm

The snow is falling, a hard chill in the air
coffee is brewing the aroma drifts through the air
a fire in the open, they gather around the flames;
their own country has forgotten their names

Christmas is nearing, cities full of bright lights
Red and Green colors bring back memories alright
But not of joy, nor peace on this earth,
Nor of the Christ child, nor the night of His birth

Red flares of a hot zone, Green flares safe to land
the bright lights of tracers ripping the bodies of man
their sleigh was a chopper, no reindeer in sight
rags held them together til the end of their flight

No one sang carols, no one rang bells
no presents to unwrap, no sweet stories to tell
Their only gift, was to fight another day
Santa never showed up, it was far out of the way

The crackling of the fire, brings their thoughts back home
they sip their coffee outside their cardboard homes
soon they will sleep beneath todays front page news
to some they have disappeared without a trace or a clue

Theres a purple heart pinned to an old veterans chest
On another a silver Star holds closed a ragged torn vest
Behold, theres a bronze star on the old soldiers coat
one hand grips a bottle, the other a suicide note

Decorations of valor beneath the steel rail bridge
Survivors of Khe San and Heart Break Ridge
The bright lights of the city and all the decorated trees
Pale in comparison to these men and, decorations such as these

So Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Think about our Brothers and Sisters who are still in the fight
They who live in the shadows of the honor they deserve
denied rights by a government they fought to preserve