My name                            is Dodge, then you know that
 it's written                            on the chart there at the foot end of the bed.
 They think                            I'm blind, that I can't read it,
 but I've                            read it, every word and every word it says is "death".
 So confession,                            is that the reason that you came?
 Get it                            off my chest, before I check out of the game?
 Since you                            mention it, well there's thirteen things I'll name,
 thirteen crosses                            high above, the cold Missouri waters.

 August 'Forty-Nine,                            North Montana,
 the hottest                            day on record, the forest tinder dry.
 Lightning strikes,                            in the mountains.
 As crew                            chief at the jump base I prepared the boys to fly.
 Pick the                            drop zone, C-47 comes in low.
 Feel the                            tap, upon your leg that tells you "GO".
 See the                            circle, of the fire down below.
 Fifteen of                            us dropped above, the cold Missouri waters.

 Gauged the                            fire, I'd seen bigger.
 I ordered                            them to sidehill, we'd fight it from below.
 We'd have                            our backs, to the river.
 We'd have                            it licked by morning even if we took it slow,
 But the                            fire crowned, jumped the valley just ahead.
 There's no                            way down, headed for the ridge instead.
 Too big                            to fight it, we'd have to fight that slope instead.
 Flames one                            step behind above, the cold Missouri waters.

 Sky turned                            red. Smoke was boiling.
 Two hundred                            yards to safety, death was fifty yards behind.
 I don't                            know why, I just thought it.
 I struck                            a match to waist high grass --- running out of time.
 Tried to                            tell them, step into this fire I set.
 We can't                            make it, this is the only chance you'll get.
 But they                            cursed me, ran for the rocks above instead.
 I lay                            face down and prayed above, the cold Missouri waters.

 a a                            a aa aa

 And when                            I rose, like the phoenix,
 that world                            reduced to ashes there were none but two survived.
 I stayed                            that night, one day after.
 Carried bodies                            to the river, wondering how I stayed alive.
 Thirteen stations,                            of the cross to mark their fall.
 I've had                            my say, I'll confess to nothing more.
 I'll join                            them now, those that left me long before.
 Thirteen crosses                            high above the cold Missouri water.
 Thirteen crosses                            high above the cold Missouri shoooooooor. uu uu uuuu