I've been standing close
I am war's last ghost
I've been writing these
Letters to you
Tell our son a story
About his brave old daddy
And how, how he tried to show
The world the truth
'Cause it's a dirty life
A dirty world
Filled with lies
So they can hurt
And I wish that I
I wish that I
That I could just go home
It's the kiss of life
The rose of death
The feeling of regret I have
So tell me why
Tell me why
I just can't go home
Son, live your life safe
You're gonna have to be brave
And be there
And be there for your mom
And when you grow old
And life turns cold
I just pray to God
You'll be there to guide her through
Through a dirty life
A dirty world
Filled with lies
So they can hurt
And I wish that I
I wish that I
That I could just go home
It's the kiss of life
The rose of death
The feeling of regret I have
So tell me why
So tell me why
I just can't go home
Well, I'll tell you how my boy
Through these words
My life, my joy
As I remain still, in peace
I'll always hold you close
Through the heavens
And the holy ghost
I'll always be by your side
Through your first
Laugh
through your first
Love
I'll be there
For your last
Dying breath
Through your first
Laugh
Through your first
Love
I'll be there
For your last
Dying breath
We both knew it could come down
Watching bullets from the sun now
As I fall to my knees
Lord, oh, carry me
And we both knew it may come down
The price for what I have done now
To my son I'll never see
Don't forget about me
It's a dirty life
A dirty world
Filled with lies
So they can hurt
And I wish that I
That I could just go home
It's the kiss of life
The rose of death
The feeling of regret I have
So tell me why
Tell me why
I just can't go home
It's a dirty life
A dirty world
Filled with all of these lies
So they can make it hurt
It's the kiss of life
It's the rose of death
It's this feeling in my soul of all the regrets I have
'Cause it's a dirty life