INTRO (lower case: individual notes, not chords) f#-a - B5 d-e-a - B5 Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm Back home Indiana, we just learn to get along G A D Am Em9 Civilized and socialized they teach you right from wrong G A D A C#m F#m How to hold your liquor and how to hold your tongue Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm How to hold a woman or a baby or a gun Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm But nothing will prepare you for the far Afghanistan G A D A F#m You can listen to their stories and pick up what you can G A D A C#mF#m You listen to their stories maybe read a book or two Bm A/C# D G A F#m Bm Until they send you out there, man you haven't got a clue C#m A C#m A C#m F#m Oh the Hindu Kush, the Band-e Amir, the Hazara Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm BmB They tell you a tradition in the hills of Kandahar G A D A F#m They say young boys are taken to the wilderness out there G A D A C#m F#m Taken to the mountain alone and in the night Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm If he makes it home alive they teach him how to fight Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm They fought against the Russians, they fought against the Brits G A D A F#m Hell, they fought old Alexander, talking 'bout him ever since G A D A C#mF#m And after 9/11 here comes your Uncle Sam Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm Another painful lesson in the far Afghanistan CACACAm CAFBEBm Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm I was ready to be terrified and ready to be mad G A D A F#m I was ready to be homesick, the worst I've ever had G A D A C#m F#m I expected to be hated and insulted to my face Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm But nothing could prepare me for the beauty of the place Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm No matter what they tell you, all soldiers talk to God G A D A F#m It's a private conversation written in your blood G A D A C#m F#m The enemy's no different, bad-ass holy wind Bm A/C# D A F#m Bm That crazy bastard talks to God and his God talks back to him EACFBm B5 (solo) (fade out ...)