The Vietnam Memorial at Washington D.C. was partly the inspiration for this moving song. In his songbook 'We Must Journey On - Songs Of Allan Taylor Vol.1' Allan says "The black stone is highly polished, and when you search for a name you see your own reflection, but it's not your name that is written."

There but for the grace of God...

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Jimmy and Val

I saw the echo of a thousand wars in the face of the man
Looking over the watching crowd, searching for a friend
Sometimes he would see a face, but then each face looks the same
Like looking in a mirror, reading a different name
Different name

He learned his lessons early, confirmation under fire
Now his eyes stare into the distance like a prisoner behind the wire
We are lucky in our fortune, we can turn the other way
But the veteran fights again at night and struggles through the day
Through the day

When you sing do you sing for the man who's broken
Do you sing for the man who stands alone
Do you sing for the endless list of names
Etched in marble stone
Etched in marble stone

He came back an addict, he came back a drunk
He came back a cripple or pieces in a trunk
He came back a hero to a waving flag parade
He was left with nothing when the glory began to fade
Began to fade

When you sing do you sing for the man who's broken
Do you sing for the man who stands alone
Do you sing for the endless list of names
Etched in marble stone
Etched in marble stone

So what do you say to the veteran who can't take it anymore
You guard your words and hold it back and talk of anything but the war
Just reach out over the distance and let him know that you're there
And hope he hasn't gone too far or forgotten how to care

When you sing do you sing for the man who's broken
Do you sing for the man who stands alone
Do you sing for the endless list of names
Etched in marble stone
Etched in marble stone
Etched in marble stone