Travellin Soldier

[A]Two days past eighteen
He was waitin' for the bus in his army greens
[D]Sat down in a booth at a caf? there
[A]Gave his order to the girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she gave him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talk[D]in' to me I'm feelin' a [A]little low
She said I'm off[G] in an hour and [D]I know where we [A]can go

So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I've got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?

[F#m]I crie[D]d
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
[A]Too young for him they told her
[E]Waitin' for the love of th[E7]e travelin' soldier
[F#m]Our love will never end
[D]Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
[A]Never more to be alone
[E]When the letter [E7]says a soldier's coming [A]home

So the letters came
From an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he told his heart
It might be love
And all of the things he was so scared of
Said when it's gettin kinda rough over here
I think about that day sittin' down at the pier
And close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Now don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while

One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your heads
For the list of local Vietnam dead
Cryin' all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read and no one really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair