"(Just Like) Indiana In The Summertime" - for (& about) Mike Pence

Some songs become topical all over again! This song title is a direct quote from Mike Pence from the Iraq war. If you weren't an Indiana native, you might not have heard much about him for a while after that - - until he became second in line to the throne in the U.S.! Read the news story that described the event here: NPR: Pence Calls Baghdad "Just Like Indiana In the Summertime"

Download of the song available at: Brian Claflin - Music page

I'm a national guard from the Hoosier state,
my guts were saved by this armor plate
when I took a bad hit to the side of my head
they say I'm lucky to be more alive than dead

there's a shade of a chance that I might walk again
my speech may return but I guess until then
I'll just keep these thoughts to myself and see
what my elected official has to say about me

I can't decide if it's amusing or cruel, they
sent a delegation on April Fool's
declaring the capital of the front line
safe as mother's milk, just like Indiana in the summertime

it's hard to know exactly whether to take
it all seriously or as an honest mistake
those Washington boys always hedge their bets
maybe it's a joke that I just don't get

the sun shone down on the Congressman
for all the eyes of the world to scan
in a bullet proof vest, a twinkle in his eye
while a few black hawks circled up in the sky

with a hundred good men being all they can be
out for a Sunday drive in their new humvees
feel like I've been here before, what does this remind me of?
Oh, I've got it! It's just like Indiana in the summertime

bridge:
he came to my suite at the VA club
and said he'd fix the leaks and replace the rug
then he flew to the market where I took my hit
and charmed us all with his wisdom and wit
you know, he's a veteran himself, so I guess
I should trust in him, 'cause he seems to know best
he says everything is perfectly fine
out there in the desert, just like Indiana in the summertime

when I first signed up I would never have thought
that I'd really end up having served and fought
even just taking shots at University kids,
let alone 'round the world, doing what I did

coming home to where nobody seems to know
what the news cameras all still refuse to show
winning a purple heart, and losing face
between "a rock" and another hard place

there's car bomb going off down the street
that was close, I nearly got out with both my feet
what with that, the snipers, and the odd landmine
it's a sweet haven, just like Indiana in the summertime

I'm a national guard from the Hoosier state
did I miss anything? I'm sorry I'm late
the pain's all gone, and I'm walking proud
through the ticker tape in the cheering crowd

the birds are singing in the bright sunshine
and I'm seein' all these dear lost buddies of mine,
I swear to god, I thought you boys was dead
last I knew, you were wrapped up in blue white and red

Who knows if the senator's wrong or right
it hardly matters from within this white light
so strangely familiar, and so sublime
feels just like home, just like Indiana in the summertime