Lyrics

Billy was a fighter, he had no choice
His daddy beat him up, his fists became his voice
He loved John Wayne and the heroes in the movies
He said I’m red blooded and no one’s going to hurt me

But even when I win I seem to lose
I bleed red white and the blues

Billy went off to Vietnam,
He did his duty for Uncle Sam
His squad got ambushed and everyone died
Except Billy who was shot three times

When he came home he was all alone
He got real drunk and he got real stoned
A forgotten warrior and a wounded man
Another casualty of Vietnam

And he said when I win I seem to lose
I bleed red white and the blues

Billy was haunted by the memory of that day
When he pulled his buddy’s lifeless body over his and he prayed
And he prayed

Before too long Billy was gone
They buried him with honors not far from home
He survived the war but not the peace
His aching heart found no relief

Like he said, when I win I seem to lose
I bleed red white and the blues
I bleed red, white and the blues
I bleed red white and the blues