Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E) Intro: N.C. I don't know why I left N.C. (I don't know why I left) N.C. But I know it won't be long N.C. (But I know it won't be long) N.C. No, it won't be long N.C. (No, it won't be long) N.C. Til I get back home
Instrumental: D G D G Verse 1: D They gave me a green uniform A D And black boots for my feet G D 18 and wild as hell Bm G I thought it would be neat They put me on a plane D G To some strange foreign land D I said goodbye to Mom and Dad A G And hello to Uncle Sam Chorus: D G Once I was a soldier Not afraid to die D But now I'm a little older G And not afraid to cry Every day I'm thankful A Just to be alive Bm When you've been where I've been G A Any kind of life D G Is paradise Verse 2: D Christmas of '89 A D Was a lonely time for me G D Panama was prob'ly fine Bm G But it was nothin' like Tennessee Never thought the day would come D G When I might have to kill a man D I did not sleep a wink that night A G But we won for Uncle Sam Chorus: D G Once I was a soldier Not afraid to die D But now I'm a little older G And not afraid to cry Every day I'm thankful A Just to be alive Bm When you've been where I've been G A Any kind of life D G Is paradise Instrumental: D G A Outro: Bm If you've been where I've been G A Any kind of life Bm A G A Is paradise D A G It's paradise D G D Paradise