I don't know why I left but I know it won't be long
No it won't be long, till I get back home

They gave me a green uniform and black boots for my feet
Eighteen and wild as hell, I thought it would be neat
They put me on a plane to some strange and foreign land
I said, good bye to mom and dad and hello to Uncle Sam

Once I was a soldier not afraid to die
But now I'm a little older not afraid to cry
Everyday I'm thankful just to be alive
When you've been where I've been
Any kind of life is paradise

Christmas of '89 was a lonely time for me
Panama was probably fine but it was nothing like Tennessee
I never thought the day would come when I might have to kill a man
Did not sleep a wink that night but we won for Uncle Sam

Once I was a soldier not afraid to die
Now I'm a little older not afraid to cry
Everyday I'm thankful just to be alive
When you've been where I've been
Any kind of life is paradise

If you've been where I've been
Any kind of life is paradise
It's paradise, paradise