50,000 Names

There's Teddy bears
And high school rings
And old photographs that Mama's bring
Of Daddy's with their young boys playin' ball
There's combat boots
He used to wear
When he was sent over there
And there's 50,000 names carved in the wall

There's cigarettes
And cans of beer
And notes that say I miss you dear
And children who don't say anything at all
There's purple hearts
And packs of gum
Fatherless daughters and fatherless sons
There's 50,000 names carved in the wall

They come from all across this land
In pickup trucks and minivans
Searchin' for a boy from long ago
They scan the wall and find his name
Tear drops fall like pourin' rain
Then silently they leave a gift and go

There's stars of David
And rosary beads
And crucifixion figurines
And flowers of all kinds
Large and small
There's a boy scout badge
And a merit pin
Little American flags wavin' in the wind
There's 50,000 names carved in the wall

There's 50,000 names carved in the wall