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