Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson (VH1 Storytellers)
Drive On Lyrics:
[Cash:]
I wrote a song called, "Drive On."
[Audience applauds and someone says, "Yeah."]
[Cash:]
Thank you. June and I read all these novels,
these books about Vietnam, you know.
I mean, practica... I guess everything came
out on the war for about a period
of six or seven years. She and I were
swappin' these books, readin' one after another.
And the language that the troops used in there
was, uh, you know, like, for, for
instance there was, uh, a group of guys goin'
along, and, and one of them'd fall.
No time to stop and grieve - y'might get shot.
So they would say, "drive on, it don't mean nothin'."
When it meant everything.
You know, they would say, "drive on, it don't mean nothin'."
Guy'd lose his leg.
"Drive on, it don't mean nothin'." But anyway,
I wrote this song called, "Drive On." As if I were there.

[Cash:]
Well, I got a friend named Whiskey Sam,
He was my boonie-rat buddy for a year in Nam.
He said, "I think my country got a little off track.
It took 'em twenty-five years to welcome me back."

But, it's better than not coming back at all.
Many a good man I saw fall,
And even now every time I dream I hear the men,
And the monkeys in the jungle scream.

[ Find more Lyrics on www.mp3lyrics.org/sZiV ]
Drive on, it don't mean nothin'.
My children love me,
But they don't understand.
And I got a woman who knows her man.
Drive on, it don't mean nothin',
It don't mean nothin', drive on.

I remember one night, Tex and me,
Rappelled in on a hot L.Z. [1]
We had our 16s [2] on rock'n'roll,
And, with all that fire we're scared and cold.
We've been crazy and we've been wild,
And I have seen the tiger smile.
I spit in a bamboo viper's face,
And I'd be dead, but by God's grace.

Drive on, it don't mean nothin'.
My children love me,
But they don't understand.
And I got a woman who knows her man.
Drive on, it don't mean nothin',
It don't mean nothin', drive on.

Well, I came home, but Tex did not,
And I can't talk about the hit he got.
But I got a little limp now when I walk.
And I got a little tremolo when I talk.
But I finally found out who I am,
I'm a walkin', talkin' miracle from Vietnam.

[Applause.]

[Cash:] Thank you very much.

[DRIVE ON]
[Written by: John R. Cash
Performed by: Johnny Cash
Appears on: VH1 Storytellers (Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson)]

[1] L.Z. stands for Landing Zone]

[2] Refers to M16 rifles used in the Vietnam War.]
Lyrics: Drive On, Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson (VH1
Storytellers) [end]