General Songtext
von Dispatch

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 medals of bravery and stripes to his name
He grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face
Now always urged his men on

But on the eve of great battle with the infantry in dream
The old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning
He awoke from the night 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 a 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, he said


I have seen the others and I have discovered
That this fight is not worth fighting, no
And I've seen their mothers, and I will no other
To follow me where I′m going

"So, take a shower and shine your shoes
You've got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living
Yeah, take a shower and shine your shoes
You've got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living
Go now, you are forgiven"

But not a man moved
Hold on, fellas, back up a little bit
Keep it going

Yeah, the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders
Not knowing what to do with his contradicting orders
The General said he would do his own duty, but he would extend it no further
The men could go as they pleased

But not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight ahead
′Til one by one they stepped back and not a word was said
The old General was left with his own words echoing in his head
He then prepared to fight, he said


"I have seen the others and I have discovered
That this fight is not worth fighting, no
And I′ve seen their mothers
And I will no other to follow me where I'm going

So take a shower and shine your shoes
You′ve got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living, yeah
Take a shower and shine your shoes
Well, you've got no time to lose
You are young men, you must be living
Go now, you are forgiven

You are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go
Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go

Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go
Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go

Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go
Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go

Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go
Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now you are forgiven, go

Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you are forgiven, go
Go now, you are forgiven, go now, you are forgiven
Go now, you got to be, got to be, got to be

You got to be livin′
You got to be livin'
You got to be livin′, whoa-oh, oh-oh

You got to be livin', yeah
You got to be livin', whoa
You got to be livin′, oh-oh-oh

We love you
Yeah