Cold Missouri Waters

My name is Dodge, but then you know that 
It's written on the chart there at the foot end of the bed 
They think I'm blind, I can't read it 
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 I was 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 
So I ordered them to sidehill and 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 was 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 had 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

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

James Keelaghan