Story Behind The Song

The music for this song was actually composed over a period of 10 years. After years of having composed only the music, and knowing in my writer's heart that the day would eventually arrive when the song would write itself,, it was finally completed in an emotional and inspirational moment when I discovered within myself these lyrics... The result, I believe, is a beautiful and meaningful song. I hope you will honor me by listening to my song, Jerusalem.

Song Description

"Jerusalem" is an epic story/song of heroism and the universal soldier. Dick Wagner's majestic guitar and production drives a powerful rock foundation for his "Jerusalem." The story unfolds around the life, dedication and pride of the young man, who tells us, "My mama calls me 'Soldier Boy." Lyrically, "JERUSALEM" portrays life and death through the eyes of the universal soldier, who recognizes that "the first to kill, is last to die. His words speak of his truth, as well as acceptance of his ultimate fate. As centuries of bloody conflict have been brought on by spiritual and religious realities, I placed my observations on warfare at the center of the three major religions and the Middle East - specifically in JERUSALEM, where the holy wars have continued through the ages. It seemed to me to be a location from which we may reflect upon many centuries of time and place -- and the heartfelt universal reality of every mama's "Soldier Boy." Dick Wagner

Lyrics

JERUSALEM
Dick Wagner

I've crawled through the jungle,
And fallen under snipers' fire,
And watched my blood run in the mire.

Drawn swords in the desert
And from a swift and mighty hand
Watched my blood spill in the sand.

I've seen the skies above Jerusalem
Where the fires of war burn holy light,
I've seen a child shot down in Belfast,
On a Christmas eve,
O Holy night.

I've sailed on the ocean,
Gibralter to Corrigidor
And watched my blood wash up on shore
Marched high in the mountains
Engaged the enemy at 10 below,
And watched my blood melting the snow.

I've seen the skies above Jerusalem
Where the fires of war burn holy light,
I've seen an orphan die in Bucharest
While the death squads play,
O Holy Night.

My name doesn't matter,
My mama calls me soldier boy
I've learned to search and to destroy

Down here in the trenches
It's man to man and eye to eye
The first to kill is last to die

I've seen the holy land, Jerusalem
And the dirty prisons of Saigon,
I've seen the bloody streets of Bagdad
And Afganistan.
I've died in each and every one.

My name doesn't matter,
My mama calls me, "soldier boy."