Let's Pretend

Heading home to San Diego
They could almost see the dock
The USS Abe Lincoln
Was returning from Iraq
They were thinking of their loved ones
They were thinking of a home
Of the many sad and lonely nights
On the battlefront alone
He stepped out on the flight deck
In a fighter pilot’s suit
You know, dress up can be fun
And make believe is cute
But I wonder what they wondered
As they surveyed the scene
After what they’d been through
After what they’d seen
Life is hard, times are tough
When the going gets too rough
And the truth’s not good enough
Let’s pretend, let’s pretend, let’s pretend
Let’s pretend I fly an airplane
Let’s pretend I fought in war
Let’s pretend I wasn’t AWOL
For sixteen months or more
Let’s pretend I know exactly
What you folks are going through
Let’s pretend that everything I say
Is absolutely true
Let’s pretend Iraq is grateful
Let’s pretend they waved and cheered
Let’s pretend the whole damn thing
Isn’t getting too damn weird
Let’s pretend that we found weapons
Let’s pretend we caught Saddam
Let’s pretend this doesn’t feel
A bit like Viet Nam
Let’s pretend affirmative action
Had nothing to do with me and Yale
And the fact that despite three arrests
I never went to jail
Three strikes and you’re out
Is for losers and for jerks
For guys who have to fight in wars
For guys who have to work