If Not Me

He said, "mama I know you have a lot of plans for me
College in the fall
Hey I'm almost eighteen
I've been doing lots of thinking about a lot of stuff
Went down to the recruiter today and I signed up."

If not there, then where?
If not now, then when?
If not this, then what else can I defend?
Being gone and being scared,
What else can I do?
If not me mama,
If not me then who?

He's upstairs shaving
His cloth is starched and pressed
I'm down here praying, my mind is a mess
I ask, "where he got, these crazy ideas anyway?"
He just smiles and says, "It's the way that I was raised"

If not there, then where?
If not now, then when?
If not this, then what else can I defend?
Being gone and being scared,
What else can I do?
If not me daddy,
If not me then who?

We wait for his letters, emails and satellite calls
Then the politics,
Thats number 84 wide receiver for the Wildscats
Who's pictures is hangning in my home next to the soldier
Standing proud and tall

He said, "If not there, then where?
If not now, then when?
If not this, then what else can I defend?
Being gone and being scared
What else can I do?
If not me dear God,
If not me then who?"