During the second world war it was common practice in Italy that if a man was wounded three times, then on the third occasion he was sent home and would not have to fight any more. This song is based on a true story.

In a small town in Italy, by the edge of a lake
where farmers once ploughed while their women would bake
daylight was leaving, there was peace all around
as the armies prepared to sow death on the ground

night finally came and with it brought fear
the fighting is fierce, the losses severe
by the edge of the lake some young men are hit
and they lie in the mud at the bottom of a pit

he opens his eyes and looks all around
a brave young soldier lies on the ground
a hole in his arm where a bullet passed through
by his side there's the body of a man he once knew

help soon arrives, his life has been saved
another day passes, he's cheated the grave
in the field men accept they are going to die
in a hospital bed they start to ask why

"you'll be OK", a doctor informs
"two or three weeks, you'll be in uniform
God has been kind, he's helped you survive
it's because of His goodness that you're still alive

"I see by your record you've been here before
before you leave this time you must know the score
if you come back a third time you'll get to go back
to your wife and your child at the end of the track"

he takes out the picture of his wife and his son
and remembers the good times, the love and the fun
if he ever gets out of this war alive
no fate will confront him that he can't survive

two months soon pass, he's back in the game
a peace loving man but he must fight just the same
he lives every day and dies every night
but sooner or later they must end the fight

a sudden attack, they're forced to retreat
a mortar then lands close to his feet
a wound to his leg, he's unable to walk
and he lays beside friends that are whiter than chalk

he cries out in pain but thanks God he's alive
the wound is not deep, he's sure to survive
he's sure to be rescued and remembers the score
it's the third time in hospital, the end of his war

he cries out for help and everyone hears
but they're forced to wait till the worst fighting clears
loneliness surrounds him as hope numbs his pain
and our brave young soldier cries out in vain

CHORUS
"please help me, please help me, please take me away
I've been here for hours, I've begged and I've prayed
get me to safety and I'll soon be home
and I'll finish my days in a land that's my own"

his friends want to help but they're afraid of the cost
if help is now sent more lives will be lost
when fighting is fierce and no one will give
it's not winning that matters but how long you can live

time passes slowly he can't stand the pain
his cries become weaker as his blood slowly drains
his mind starts to wander as his chances rescind
and his pitiful cries are lost to the wind

at last help arrives as his life starts to slide
his wife and his child appear by his side
"don't worry darling we'll take you back home
this is no place for a man or a tomb"

he sighs with relief and raises his hand
and yet all around him the bombs still land
"please go to safety I'll not have you hurt
he pleads to his wife from the mud and the dirt"

but just as he speaks, his wife disappears
his mother stands before him, her eyes filled with tears
she kneels down beside him, looks deep in his eyes
"I'm sorry my son but you're going to die

you're just yards from safety but it does you no good
your friends share your pain, they'd help if they could
your life's just a number that's been thrown to the flames
another pawn lost in man's foolish games"

"don't worry mother, I'm sure that you're wrong"
but just as he speaks, she too was gone
alone once again, he starts to cry
life has been hard but I don't want to die"

time passes slowly, his blood slowly drains
death fills the air, dreams fill his brain
his heart starts to ache as reality chimes
and with the last of his strength he cries one last time

daylight arrives a truce is agreed
they find our young soldier but there's nothing he needs
for him no more pain will touch his sad life
for death has now found him and sunk deep its knife

another man joins the millions gone before
we win and we lose but neither side score
a brave young soldier was so close to home
and but for this song you'd never have known

© NEMO JAMES. All Rights Reserved
Words & Music by Nemo James