Johnny gave Joe his first cigarette
Joe lit the filter,
then he smoked the whole packet
Joe bought all the gas that Johnny's old for
and he always said that's what friends were for
Johnny married Tina, Joe married Dee
Two blonde-haired sisters from Covington,
Kentucky
Then in 67 Johnny joined the Corps
Joe did too, but he never knew what for
Tonight in this bar room
he's easing his pain
He's thinking of someone,
but he won't say the name
Folks say he's a hero,
but he'll tell you he ain't
He left the hero in the jungle back in 1968
Johnny went from job to job trying to make ends meet
Tina divorced him back in 83 Now 30 years come and 30 years go
Johnny's got a grandkid that he barely knows
And tonight in this bar room
he's easing his pain
He's thinking of someone,
but he won't say the name
Folks say he's a hero,
but he'll tell you he ain't
He left the hero in the jungle back in 1968
Dee calls Johnny every now and then
Talks about her children and her third husband
When he asks about someone they used to know
Dee says, Johnny, that was so long ago
Tonight in this bar room
he's easing his pain
He's thinking of someone,
but he won't say the name
Folks say he's a hero,
but he'll tell you he ain't
He left the hero in the jungle back in 1968
He left the hero in the jungle back in 1968