He's been the man in every war before
Fought so brave and nearly froze at Valley Forge
And in the big war he was the man
And now in Vietnam we owe a lot to the private

He has the courage of the knights of old
He's America's strenght standing straight and bold
With gun in hand he is a fightin' man
A courageous man yes we owe a lot to the private

He takes the gun and he points it straight
Straight at the heart of the things that free man hates
We owe a lot to the private

He's some lonely girl's only sweetheart
And he's some mother's only son
And he's some father's greatest pride and joy
Oh that great boy yes we owe a lot to the private

He takes the gun
We owe a lot to the private yes we owe a lot to the private