Ballad of the Green Beret



Ballad of the Green Beret  
by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler and Robin Moore, copyright 1966  

 
 
Fighting soldiers from the sky 
 Fearless men who jump and die 
 Men who mean just what they say 
 The brave men of the Green Beret 

Silver wings upon their chest 
 These are men, America's best 
 One hundred men will test today 
 But only three win the Green Beret 

Trained to live off nature's land 
 Trained in combat, hand-to-hand 
 Men who fight by night and day 
 Courage peak from the Green Berets 

Silver wings upon their chest 
 These are men, America's best 
 One hundred men will test today 
 But only three win the Green Beret 

Back at home a young wife waits 
 Her Green Beret has met his fate 
 He has died for those oppressed 
 Leaving her his last request 

Put silver wings on my son's chest 
 Make him one of America's best 
 He'll be a man they'll test one day 
 Have him win the Green Beret. 





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