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One Thousand Brave Young Soldiers
Dan Speers

One thousand brave young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears, their loved ones cry.
O’er freedom’s wall, our eagles fly.

We’re vigilant, Americans we
We will defend our liberty.
We pledge our lives if fight we must
For a cause when . . .
The cause is just.

One thousand-one young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears, we all know why.
When duty calls, our eagles fly.

From desert towns, uplands and plains
To dusty sands with rusty stains,
Our soldiers fight,
with righteous might,
For a cause they . . .
Were told was right.

Two thousand brave young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears, we dare ask why
If truth’s a lie, need soldiers die?

Nine eleven, no connection;
No weapons of mass destruction.
Though heroes all, our soldiers bold
They never found . . .
What they were told.

Three thousand brave young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears and still we cry.
When wisdom fails, our soldiers die.

Four thousand brave young soldiers dead.
And even more, the fear we dread.
Vermilion tears, too late to cry.
Our soldiers die - when leaders lie.

Our soldiers die – when leaders lie.

One Thousand Brave

--Benjamin Franklin

Historical Review
of Pennsylvania,
1759

The ballad was composed to honor the service of our armed forces while calling attention to
the duplicitous actions of the men and women who initiated this illegal, immoral and
unnecessary war. Thus, when the death toll reached 2000, I edited the lyrics to reflect this grim
new reality, with the last verse listing the number 3000.

I honestly did not think--or, perhaps, I did not want to think, that I would want or need to ever edit
these lines again. I certainly did not considered increasing the number beyond 3000.

On December 28, 2006, an American solider was killed on the streets of Bagdad, becoming
the 3,000th service member to die in this war. January 20, 2007 became the second deadliest
day for the US when 25 service members died.

By coincidence, this occured almost exactly two years from the last revision of the ballad and
the bloodiest day of all, January 26, 2005 when 37 service members died. Because of this, I
have reluctantly decided to edit the ballad one more time, particularly now that President Bush
is sending even more troops into a war he has already lost.

                         Four thousand brave young soldiers dead.
                         And even more, the fear we dread.
                         Vermilion tears, too late to cry.
                         Our soldiers die - when leaders lie.


The troops will serve without question, of course. Going into the valley of death is not really a
choice. But at what point do we, as the majority of American citizens who are opposed to this
war, at long last put an end to this madness of repeating a strategy that has already failed, a
policy that has already killed more than 3,000 and maimed thousands more?

I sincerely hope that I do not find myself writing the number 5000 at some future day. Or 6000.
Or more.
                                                                                                                   --Dan Speers 1/22/2007

Groups , musicians or singers wishing to
perform or record this ballad should contact
Acadinean Publishing for rights and
permissions.

A million tears, their loved ones cry.
O’er freedom’s wall, our eagles fly.

We’re vigilant, Americans we
We will defend our liberty.
We pledge our lives if fight we must
For a cause when . . .
The cause is just.

One thousand-one young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears, we all know why.
When duty calls, our eagles fly.

From desert towns, uplands and plains
To dusty sands with rusty stains,
Our soldiers fight,
with righteous might,
For a cause they . . .
Were told was right.

And thousands more, their blood was shed.
If truth’s a lie, need soldiers die?

Nine eleven, no connection;
No weapons of mass destruction.
Though heroes all, our soldiers bold
They never found . . .
What they were told.

Two thousand-one young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears and still we cry.
When wisdom fails, our soldiers die.

Three thousand brave young soldiers dead.
And even more, the fear we dread.
Vermilion tears, too late to cry.
Our soldiers die - when leaders lie.

Our soldiers die – when leaders lie.

Copyright 2005 by Daniel E. Speers

(2005 Version as Published in Master Spies and Muzzy Spooks)
Dan Speers

The Original Ballad

One Thousand Brave Young Soldiers
(2003 Version)
Dan Speers

O’er freedom’s wall, our eagles fly.

We’re vigilant, Americans we
We will defend our liberty.
We pledge our lives if fight we must
For a cause when . . .
The cause is just.

One thousand-one young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears, we all know why.
When duty calls, our eagles fly.

From desert towns, uplands and plains
To dusty sands with rusty stains,
Our soldiers fight,
with righteous might,
For a cause they . . .
Were told was right.

And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears, we dare ask why
If truth’s a lie, need soldiers die?

Nine eleven, no connection;
No weapons of mass destruction.
Though heroes all, our soldiers bold
They never found . . .
What they were told.

One thousand-three young soldiers dead.
And thousands more, their blood was shed.
A million tears and still we cry.
When wisdom fails, our soldiers die.

Two thousand brave young soldiers dead.
And even more, the fear we dread.
Vermilion tears, too late to cry.
Our soldiers die - when leaders lie.

Our soldiers die – when leaders lie.

Copyright 2003. 2004 by Daniel E. Speers

Revised Version. For original versions, see below.