Johnny was a soldier

A boy dressed in a man's clothes

They sent him - sent him to war

To fight and kill other boys

He saw the effects of his actions

The sounds, the taste of battle up close

He'd wake in the night screaming

At the memory of a boy with no life

Thoughts running round inside the brain

Drive you to the point of suicide

Nothing to be done to stop the pain

Might as well sit back and enjoy the ride -

Other peoples fears live in your mind!

His country ended his service

And sent him home to live in 'peace'

But the dreams kept him from sleeping

And he came, in time, to talk with me.

I, I was the preacher

Who helped him face his dreams

Johnny poured his guilt into me

Where it sits with that of so many

Thoughts running round inside the brain

Drive you to the point of suicide

Nothing to be done to stop the pain

Might as well sit back and enjoy the ride -

Other peoples fears live in your mind!

He purged his soul of the death and the killing

Leaving me with the horrors he saw

I, like a vessel,

Filled with the thoughts of those in my care,

I started to dream things unknown

To me - the dreams of those I had cured

They're all gone now safe in the knowledge

Their pain gone - how? They do not care

Thoughts running round inside the brain

Drive you to the point of suicide

Nothing to be done to stop the pain

Might as well sit back and enjoy the ride -

Other peoples fears live in your mind!

I didn't want this - I hate you

You taint me them leave me alone

And it seems now to be better

If the pain of others is no longer my own...