Them Bird Things - Decoration Day lyrics

Carried you on my shoulders On Decoration Day Like bu*ternut soldiers We unfurled flags in May Shielded you from the sun We huzzahed the parade My darling boy, my only one Every prayer I prayed And as I lay dyin Can't keep from cryin' out Your name Bitter as blood Bright as a blade Just like your father A pearl from a sow's purse You left at 18 A family curse And as I lay dyin Can't keep from cryin' out Your name Bitter as blood Bright as a blade Took down the thumbtacks And campaign maps Chickamagua and Hood And I never understood If I saw you in a Huey On the way to Hue Between clips of LBJ From mother to son Cradle to grave A dog to vomit Nothing was saved And as I lay dyin Can't keep from cryin' out Your name I count every breath I mark every day Too torn to trust Too proud to pray Bitter as blood Bright as a blade