Far Afghanistan Lyrics - Before This World - James Taylor

Back home Indiana, we just learn to get along 

Civilized and socialized they teach you right from wrong 

How to hold your liquor and how to hold your tongue 

How to hold a woman or a baby or a gun 

But nothing will prepare you for the far Afghanistan 

You can listen to their stories and pick up what you can 

You listen to their stories maybe read a book or two 

Until they send you out there, man you haven't got a clue 

Oh the Hindu Kush, the Band-e Amir, the Hazara 

They tell you a tradition in the hills of Kandahar 

They say young boys are taken to the wilderness out there 

Taken to the mountain alone and in the night 

If he makes it home alive they teach him how to fight 

They fought against the Russians, they fought against the Brits 

They fought old Alexander, talking 'bout him ever since 

And after 9/11 here comes your Uncle Sam 

Another painful lesson in the far Afghanistan 

I was ready to be terrified and ready to be mad 

I was ready to be homesick, the worst I've ever had 

I expected to be hated and insulted to my face 

But nothing could prepare me for the beauty of the place 

No matter what they tell you all soldiers talk to God 

It's a private conversation written in your blood 

The enemy's no different, badass holy wind 

That crazy bastard talks to God and his God talks back to him