"Mother And Son" lyrics

"He had put the Midway tattoo on his arm 'cause he loved that ship..."

What was it like when you welcomed your son on that day, Mother?
Didn't your love eclipse everything you'd ever known before him?
You know the world is a rough place to be don't you, Mother?
You held him close to your heart safe from harm as you pray, Mother

What was it like when you sent him off into the world, Mother?
They say the bond between mother and child is an indestructible thing
He wants to fight for his country, the noblest of things, Mother
He left to sail the vast oceans in search of his dreams, Mother

He doesn't know hate now
He doesn't know sorrow
He doesn't know fear
Nor does he fret for tomorrow
He doesn't feel pain anymore
He doesn't feel any shame
He knows what men spend their lives in pursuit of
He is at peace while they writhe in their horror

Didn't you know it inside of your heart when he died, Mother?
They took his life with an inhuman rage because his love was different from theirs
Now they don't want to face what they've done do they, Mother
His life meant nothing to those who would judge him that day, Mother

He doesn't know hate now
He doesn't know sorrow
He doesn't know fear
Nor does he fret for tomorrow
He doesn't feel pain anymore
He doesn't feel any shame
He knows what men spend their lives in pursuit of
He is at peace while they writhe in their horror