Lyrics

[Hook – Country Style]
Joined up young just to prove ‘em wrong
Thought I was tough, thought I was strong
Then the towers fell and the game got real
From boots to blood, I learned to feel
Desert heat, rounds flyin’ fast
I lost my youth, but I found my path
You don’t come back the same inside
Once you’ve been baptized in the desert ride


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[Verse 1 – Rap]
18, full of pride and rage
Signed that line, turned a page
Said “I’m done with the street life, time to grow”
Uncle Sam said, “Let’s see what you know”

Three months in, world hit the flame
9/11 came, nothin’ was the same
Infantry blues, chip still there
But the mission now cut through the air

Pushin' through pain in Georgia mud
Learned to love sweat, tears, and blood
Drill sergeant yellin’, boots on the line
But I was built for war—I was ready to shine


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[Hook – Country Style]
Joined up young just to prove ‘em wrong
Thought I was tough, thought I was strong
Then the towers fell and the game got real
From boots to blood, I learned to feel
Desert heat, rounds flyin’ fast
I lost my youth, but I found my path
You don’t come back the same inside
Once you’ve been baptized in the desert ride


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[Verse 2 – Rap]
Fast forward to that March day heat
‘03, boots deep in Iraqi streets
March 23, I saw a man fall
Pulled that trigger, felt nothin’ at all

First kill, yeah it shook my soul
But in that fight, you play your role
Can’t freeze up when the rounds come in
You pray to God, and count your sins

April 2, hit the ambush trap
Five-hour fight, couldn’t fight back
Ammo low, just me and my boys
Laughin' through hell, blockin’ the noise

Lost some friends, gained some ghosts
Burned like fire, haunts me most
But I came out a different man
Desert made me what I am


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[Hook – Country Style]
Joined up young just to prove ‘em wrong
Thought I was tough, thought I was strong
Then the towers fell and the game got real
From boots to blood, I learned to feel
Desert heat, rounds flyin’ fast
I lost my youth, but I found my path
You don’t come back the same inside
Once you’ve been baptized in the desert ride


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[Bridge – Spoken or Sung Gritty Line]
You don’t know pain ‘til you see a brother fall
You don’t know peace ‘til you’ve walked through it all


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[Final Hook – Strong Delivery]
I joined to change, and Lord I did
Left that boy, came back a kid
Wiser, harder, eyes don’t lie
Seen too much to live a lie
Now I wear that patch with pride
But I’ll always carry what I had to hide
You don’t come back the same inside
Once you’ve been baptized in the desert ride