VERSE
The Grave
Don McLean
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,
And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.
He's gone.
When the wars of our nation did beckon,
A man barely twenty did answer the calling.
Proud of the trust that he placed in our nation,
He's gone,
But Eternity knows him, and it knows what we've done.
And the rain fell like pearls on the leaves of the flowers
Leaving brown, muddy clay where the earth had been dry.
And deep in the trench he waited for hours,
As he held to his rifle and prayed not to die.
But the silence of night was shattered by fire
As guns and grenades blasted sharp through the air.
And one after another his comrades were slaughtered.
In morgue of Marines, alone standing there.
He crouched ever lower, ever lower with fear.
"They can't let me die! The can't let me die here!
I'll cover myself with the mud and the earth.
I'll cover myself! I know I'm not brave!
The earth! the earth! the earth is my grave."
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,
And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.
He's gone.
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About this Song
The Grave by Don McLean is a poignant song that delves into the harrowing experiences of war and its devastating impact. Set against the backdrop of a soldier's life, it captures the fear, patriotism, and the ultimate sacrifice that soldiers make. The song highlights the futility of war and serves as an anti-war anthem. Through vivid storytelling, McLean depicts the emotional and physical toll on those who fight, as well as the sorrow of their loved ones. Key themes include the tragedy of war, the loss of innocence, and the heavy cost of freedom. Particularly poignant moments include the soldier's internal conflict and the grief of families left behind.
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