Let's Pretend - John McCutcheon

Heading home to San Diego

They could almost see the dock

The USS Abe Lincoln

Was returning from Iraq

They were thinking of their loved ones

They were thinking of a home

Of the many sad and lonely nights

On the battlefront alone

He stepped out on the flight deck

In a fighter pilot’s suit

You know, dress up can be fun

And make believe is cute

But I wonder what they wondered

As they surveyed the scene

After what they’d been through

After what they’d seen

Life is hard, times are tough

When the going gets too rough

And the truth’s not good enough

Let’s pretend, let’s pretend, let’s pretend

Let’s pretend I fly an airplane

Let’s pretend I fought in war

Let’s pretend I wasn’t AWOL

For sixteen months or more

Let’s pretend I know exactly

What you folks are going through

Let’s pretend that everything I say

Is absolutely true

Let’s pretend Iraq is grateful

Let’s pretend they waved and cheered

Let’s pretend the whole damn thing

Isn’t getting too damn weird

Let’s pretend that we found weapons

Let’s pretend we caught Saddam

Let’s pretend this doesn’t feel

A bit like Viet Nam

Let’s pretend affirmative action

Had nothing to do with me and Yale

And the fact that despite three arrests

I never went to jail

Three strikes and you’re out

Is for losers and for jerks

For guys who have to fight in wars

For guys who have to work