At seventeen I took that navy blue
Swore the oath
and to my old life adieu
Twenty-one years a sailor through and through
Now I'm back home feeling kind of new

Everything I needed was in my seabag
Now I'm learning life's more than a name tag

From leading troops to leading family nights
Trying to adjust to set these new sights

Retired civilian it's a brand new dawn
Waking up no ship's horn but the lawn
Loud bangs make me shout
"GET DOWN STAY DOWN!"
I salute those who've adjusted wearing this new crown
We were good at war now let's win this peace
Together we'll build our strength will never cease

No more 24/7 just nine to five
Finding peace in a simple daily jive
Drugs and alcohol they call my name
But I'm fighting back reclaiming my frame

I was trained to protect who am I now?
A good soldier trying to be a good spouse
The battles changed from war zones to home
Adjusting to a life where I freely roam

Retired civilian it's a brand new dawn
Waking up no ship's horn but the lawn
Loud bangs make me shout
"GET DOWN STAY DOWN!"
I salute those who've adjusted wearing this new crown
We were good at war now let's win this peace
Together we'll build our strength will never cease

In the crowd I stand alone taught to avoid
But now it's time to fill this empty void
Visiting the VA old wounds they bleed
Only a vet can understand this need

From medals in war to medals in peace
Every day in civvy life I find my release
Not just the men our women served proud
Now we're all learning to mingle in the crowd

Retired civilian it's a brand new dawn
Waking up no ship's horn but the lawn
Loud bangs make me shout
"GET DOWN STAY DOWN!"
I salute those who've adjusted wearing this new crown
We were good at war now let's win this peace
Together we'll build our strength will never cease

So here's to the vets sticking together tight
From active duty to civilian life we'll fight
With hope in our hearts and dreams in our sight
We're never alone we'll stand in the light
We'll stand in the light
We'll stand in the light
We'll stand in the light