Private Wilson White Lyrics - Marty Robbins

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight 

Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White 

On a battlefield one day in a land so far away 

Mid the rattle of machine guns in the dawn's first golden light 

Twenty men lay close to death, nineteen of them held their breath 

While one volunteered to save them, volunteered to give his life 

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight 

Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White 

Nineteen lives he meant to save, not one backward glance he gave 

As he yelled, for God and country, through an open field he ran 

But the enemy had seen and they understood his scheme 

And the fire from their machine guns knocked the rifle from his hands 

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight 

Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White 

Seven bullets found their mark, seven bullets near the heart 

And the force of seven bullets knocked the soldier to the ground 

But his promise he must keep, and he staggered to his feet 

Ran toward the four machine guns that pinned the soldiers down 

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight 

Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White 

Bullets flyin' everywhere, smoke and gunfire filled the air 

Onward ran the wounded soldier to keep the vow he made 

Nearly dead, but deep within, was the strength to pull the pin 

As he yelled, I died for freedom, he threw the hand grenade 

Private Wilson White, America is proud tonight 

Proud to claim you for their hero, Private White