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Author's Chapter Notes:
If you didn't have to be a soldier, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Tell me, what did you really want to be
when you grew up? Just who did you see
yourself become if it were up to you?
If you didn't have to be soldier, what would you do?
What did your home need? What did it lack?
What did they miss out on, what did you pack
when you shipped out, no turning back?
Just years & years of turning corners
No glory, just trying not to be another
punch-clock thug, just following orders
Waiting for the day that never comes
Even if you leave, the warbeat still drums


Forever War
Invade the 3rd World, troubleshooting
1st World Problems, instead of rebooting
Forever more
Just pretending there'll be a happy ending
Until there's nothing left worth defending

Thank heaven for those who came back alive
Blame hell for those who didn't survive
But here on Earth we just ignore
the toll, for we still have Reserves
on both sides, a fate no one deserves
Quoth the Chickenhawk: "Nevermore"
But without victory, there is only doubt
so with endless enemies, there's no way out
Just another round in the Forever War


All these years later, the warzone still grows
stacking a body count nobody knows
fighting waves of manufactured foes
After all, that's just how it goes
when Enemy Combatants all look the same
as all the civilians, having no shame
Hide and Seek in plain sight, shifting blame
to refugees fleeing this frag-tag game
sent back into the rubble from whence they came
with no exit strategy, no endgame
Business As Usual, respawn shooting ranges
Technology might, but war never changes


Forever War
Invade the 3rd World, troubleshooting
1st World Problems, instead of rebooting
Forever more
Just pretending there'll be a happy ending
Until there's nothing left worth defending

Thank heaven for those who came back alive
Blame hell for those who didn't survive
But here on Earth we just ignore
the toll, for we still have Reserves
on both sides, a fate no one deserves
Quoth the Chickenhawk: "Nevermore"
But without victory, there is only doubt
so with endless enemies, there's no way out
Just another round in the Forever War


Turning corners turned into a revolving door
That's all that this will be remembered for
Sustainable peace is never in store
when fighting a rich man's endless war
Generations shipping out to distant shores
mass-producing foes for the next generation's poor
to fight while profiteers keep Stock Market score
for next Fiscal Quarter in the Forever War


Forever War
Invade the 3rd World, troubleshooting
1st World Problems, instead of rebooting
Forever more
Just pretending there'll be a happy ending
Until there's nothing left worth defending

Thank heaven for those who came back alive
Blame hell for those who didn't survive
But here on earth we just ignore
the toll, for we still have Reserves
on both sides, a fate no one deserves
Quoth the Chickenhawk: "Nevermore"
But without victory, there is only doubt
so with endless enemies, there's no way out
Just another round in the Forever War

Forever war, forever more
Quoth the vultures: "Nevermore"
All it will be remembered for
No turning back, opening that door
Years from now, we might implore:
Where have all the young ones gone?

They're still fighting the Forever War
Chapter End Notes:
Someday, I'd like to actually post a retrospective on the War On Terror(ists), but much like Vietnam, I suspect this is the sort of "war" no one wins, but just gets tired of. There was never any defined "enemy" to defeat, so all we'll ever be doing is shadow-boxing the consequences of our foreign policy. :(