Right Hand to the Sky

Ten weeks ago, a boy got on a bus Today a soldier marches back to us Your mama scanned a hundred caps all marching in a line Found you by your walk — a little different now, still mine The letters home got shorter but the handwriting got sure "Don't worry 'bout me, Mama. I know what I'm here for." The boy who couldn't make his bed Just made us all stand taller From boy to the oath, right hand to the sky You left here as our baby, you marched back standing higher We don't know where they'll send you, but we know what you became From boy to the oath Son, we're proud to shout your name Your father kept his jaw set hard until the colors passed Then the man who never cries was wiping at the grass You found us after, squared away, that grin still underneath The uniform is new — the heart's the one we always knew Whatever made you sign that line It made the rest of us believe From boy to the oath, right hand to the sky You left here as our baby, you marched back standing higher We don't know where they'll send you, but we know what you became From boy to the oath Son, we're proud to shout your name Your grandfather wore the same cloth, different war, same vow Somewhere he's standing at attention Passing you the colors now From boy to the oath, right hand to the sky You left here as our baby, you marched back standing higher We don't know where they'll send you, but we know what you became From boy to the oath Son, we're proud to shout your name Stand easy, soldier Come home for Sunday dinner first