Anchors away they go, from sea to shining sea and so
They sail ‘cross the world, with their flag unfurled.
And no one can be blamed for things we can’t control,
I’ll see when I am old, so I’m told.
The wind is blowing cold.
They took a real good friend of mine
And sent him up into the sky.
At break of day they say goodbye to college joys
And men are made from boys, so they say,
But one has gone away.
So much that I can never understand,
The things we planned have passed us by,
And I cry. They told the world a lie.
They took a real good friend of mine
And sent him up into the sky.
Tommy, can you hear me? How I wish
That you were near me, we could talk
In the yard, or maybe play some cards.
But see the world they told you,
Now your wife will never hold you, and your child,
Not to blame. He’ll only have your name.
They took a real good friend of mine
And sent him up into the sky.
They took a real good friend of mine.