Tokyo Bay

Madeline Fendrick - mandolin, vocals

Brian Peck - guitar, vocals

No stories of being called to war

Or sailing away from your home shore

Nothing 'bout life below the deck

Did you wonder how many days were left

 

No tales of working as a radioman

Catching frequencies from the U.S. and Japan

Morse code messages flying through the sky

Commandments far from Mount Sinai

 

No sagas of sailing through mine fields

On August 19, 1945

Your ship was headed into Tokyo Bay

When you turned 20 years old that day

 

Papa, you spoke of

Goodman and Miller and Ol' Satchmo

The swing of the bands that made your cheeks glow

And the Cubbies losing again was a shame

But at least Harry Carry was still singing back then

 

Never cracked open that door even once

Your not alone, it's no coincidence

Though I can't relate, I was born to baby boomers

War is far away, I've never seen draft papers

 

Oh, what would I do if I had to serve

Oh boy, that would be an unexpected curve

What does it mean to "Be All That You Can Be"

Walking past women and children on war torn streets

 

No sagas of sailing through mine fields

Days after Little Boy and Fat Man were revealed

Your ship was headed into Tokyo Bay

When you turned 20 years old that day

 

Papa, you spoke of

Goodman and Miller and Ol' Satchmo

The swing of the bands that made your cheeks glow

And the Cubbies losing again was a shame

But at least Harry Carry was still singing back then

 

Shoulda been a-coulda been a-playin' football

Wait a go Uncle Sam you took 'em from Chicago

Even if he had a voice you didn't give 'em much choice

Servin' was the only way for a kid in those days

Shoulda been a-coulda been a-playin' football

Wait a go Uncle Sam you took 'em from Chicago

Even if he had a voice you didn't give 'em much choice

Servin' was the only way for a kid in those days

 

Papa, you spoke of

Goodman and Miller and Ol' Satchmo

The swing of the bands that made your cheeks glow

And the Cubbies losing again was a shame

But at least Harry Carry was still singing back then

And playin' tackle on the line of your school football team

It was in Soldier Field you became champions

But what about the picture of the U.S.S. Grimes

Displayed on the wall with you and 500 lives

ut what about the picture of the U.S.S. Grimes

Displayed on the wall with you and 500 lives