I am not Courage

They call it courage,
when you're buddy's down
and all that's stopping death
is a thirty magazine.
They call it courage.
They give you a medal.
For saving your skin.
Killing the kid who's
just doing 'cause his daddy said.
They call it courage.
And give you a medal.
For doing all that was going
through your head.
Because that other boy is dead.
Is it courage?
When you couldn't save your friend?
I was given a medal.
That is just wasted lead.
I killed when I was scared.
And they call that courage.
When the other boy is dead.
What from his eyes?
Or from thiers?
He had the guts to come at me.

They call me courage,
twenty-five years from then.
With all the gun powder
rubbed into the lines of my hand.
I am not courage.
I am a coward.
I shot a man.