Brad Paisley’s ‘Love and War’ is a genius protest song [song, lyrics and interview]

Country superstar Brad Paisley released the title track for his new album Love and War and the song sends a message to anyone willing to listen that America needs to do much better in taking care of her veterans.

“Once I came up with the idea for that song, I had it in mind to do that with John Fogerty who was the voice of, musically, the Vietnam Era in some ways,” Paisley told Fox News’ Fox 411 Country in an interview. “We think back to what we got wrong during Vietnam, which was that if you weren’t for the war somehow you weren’t for the troops either.”

Lyrics to Brad Paisley’s “Love and War”

[Verse: Paisley]
He was nineteen
When he landed at Bagram
Scared and all alone
He lost a leg and a girlfriend
Before he got home

[Chorus: Paisley]
And they say all is fair in Love and War
But that ain’t true, it’s wrong
They ship you out to die for us
Forget about you when you don’t

[Verse: John Fogerty]
He was nineteen in ’68
After all this time
That broken boy is now a broken man
Waitin’ in a VA line
They say all is fair in Love and War
But that ain’t true, it’s wrong
They ship you out to die for us
Forget about you when you don’t

[Verse: Both]
And the nightmares
And he’s running scared
Far from home
And he wakes up
From a nightmare
He’s in another one
He’s still not home

[Verse Paisley]
They call ’em decorated heroes
And pin some medals on their chest
Give ’em a tiny little pension
Could we do much less

[Chorus: Both]
They say all is fair in Love and War
But that ain’t true, it’s wrong
They ship you out to die for us
Forget about you when you don’t
They say all is fair in Love and War
But that ain’t true, it’s wrong
They ship you out to die for us
Forget about you when you don’t
They say all is fair in Love and War
But that ain’t true, it’s wrong
They ship you out to die for us
But forget about you when you don’t