| [00:09.400] |
My name is Dodge but then you know that |
| [00:15.430] |
It's written on the chart there at the foot end of the of the bed |
| [00:21.210] |
They think I'm blind that I can't read it |
| [00:27.360] |
But I've read it every word and every word it says is death |
| [00:33.060] |
So confession Is that the reason that you came |
| [00:39.030] |
Get it off my chest before I check out of the game |
| [00:45.050] |
Since you mention it well there's thirteen things I'll name |
| [00:51.630] |
Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters |
| [01:04.620] |
August 49 West Montana |
| [01:11.210] |
The hottest day on record the forest tinder dry |
| [01:17.310] |
Lightning strikes in the mountains |
| [01:22.800] |
I was crew chief at the jump base |
| [01:26.010] |
I prepared the boys to fly |
| [01:28.610] |
Pick the drop zone C47 comes in low |
| [01:34.480] |
Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you go |
| [01:40.250] |
See the circle of the fire down below |
| [01:47.020] |
Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters |
| [02:00.680] |
Gauged the fire I'd seen bigger |
| [02:05.890] |
So I ordered them to side hill we'd fight it from below |
| [02:11.820] |
We'd have our backs to the river |
| [02:17.800] |
We'd have it licked by morning even if we took it slow |
| [02:23.560] |
But the fire crowned jumped the valley just ahead |
| [02:28.950] |
There was no way down we headed for the ridge instead |
| [02:34.940] |
Too big to fight it we'd have to fight that slope instead |
| [02:41.860] |
Flames one step behind above the cold Missouri waters |
| [02:54.820] |
Sky had turned red smoke was boiling |
| [03:00.580] |
Two hundred yards to saftey |
| [03:03.660] |
Death was fifty yards behind |
| [03:06.600] |
I don't know why I just thought it |
| [03:12.530] |
I struck a match to waist high grass running out of time |
| [03:17.900] |
Tried to tell them step into this fire I've set |
| [03:23.980] |
We can't make it this is the only chance you'll get |
| [03:29.790] |
But they cursed me |
| [03:32.830] |
Ran for the rocks above instead |
| [03:36.200] |
I lay face down and prayed |
| [03:54.640] |
Then when I rose like the phoenix |
| [03:59.470] |
In that world reduced to ashes |
| [04:01.840] |
There was none but two survived |
| [04:04.390] |
I stayed that night and one day after |
| [04:09.100] |
Carried bodies to the river |
| [04:11.280] |
Wondering how I stayed alive |
| [04:13.360] |
Thirteen stations of the cross to mark their fall |
| [04:18.500] |
Now I've had my say I'll confess to nothing more |
| [04:23.550] |
Now I'll join them now those that they left me long before |
| [04:28.660] |
Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters |
| [05:25.630] |
|
