[Verse 1]

There was a decorated general with a heart of gold

That likened him to all the stories he told

Of past battles won and lost, and legends of old

A seasoned veteran in his own time

On the battlefield, he gained respectful fame

With many medals of bravery and stripes to his name

He grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face

And always urged his men on

[Verse 2]

But on the eve of a great battle with the infantry in dream

The old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning

He awoke from that night to tell what he had seen

And walked slowly out of his tent

All the men held tall with their chests in the air

With courage in their blood and a fire in their stare

And it was a grey morning and they all wondered how they would fare

Till the old general told them to go home

[Chorus]

He said, "I have seen the others, and I have discovered

That this fight is not worth fighting

And I've seen their mothers

And I will no other

To follow me where I'm going

So take your shower, shine your shoes, you got no time to lose

You are young and you must be living

So take your shower, shine your shoes, you got no time to lose

You are young and you must be living

Go now, you are forgiven"

[Post-Chorus]

Yeah

[Verse 3]

But the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders

Not knowing what to do with their contradicting orders

The general said he would do his own duty but he would extend it no further

The men could go as they pleased

But not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight ahead

Till one by one they stepped back, and not a word was said

And the old general was left with his own words echoing in his head

He then prepared to fight

[Chorus]

He said, "I have seen the others, and I have discovered

That this fight is not worth fighting

And I've seen their mothers

And I will no other

To follow me where I'm going

[Outro]

Go now, you are forgiven

Go now, you are forgiven

Go now, you are forgiven

Go

Go now, you are forgiven

Go now, you are forgiven

Go now, you are forgiven

Yeah-ee-yeah!

Go now, you are forgiven

Go now, you are forgiven

Go now, you got to be, got to be, got to be

Hay-ay-ee-yay"