The Ballad of the Green Berets

Music for the study of the Vietnam War
collected by John J. Fitzgerald
Longmeadow High School
Longmeadow, MA 01106
(not to be sold)

"The Ballad of the Green Berets"

SSgt. Barry Sadler, U.S. Army

Fighting soldiers from the sky,
fearless men who jump and die.
Men who mean just what they say,
the brave men of the Green Beret.

Silver wings upon their chest,
these are men, America's best.
One hundred men, we'll test today,
but only three, win the Green Beret.

Trained to live off Nature's land,
trained in combat - hand to hand.
Men who fight by night and day,
courage take, from the Green Beret.

Chorus:
Silver wings upon their chest,
these are men, America's best.
One hundred men, we'll test today,
but only three, win the Green Beret.

Back at home a young wife waits,
her Green Beret has met his fate.
He has died for those oppressed,
leaving her this last request.

"Put silver wings on my son's chest,
make him one of America's best.
He'll be a man they test one day.
Have him win, the Green Beret."