I've seen the old man sitting' 'round 我见过的老人坐在轮

The courthouse square back home in town 该法院广场回到老家镇

Talkin' about the big war back in 1943 说有关的大战早在1943年

Saying' how much good it's done 说有多少好它的完成

Medals gleaming' in the sun 金牌闪闪发光的“在阳光下

Cussing' at my long hair 咒骂“我的长头发

And my talk of being' free 我正在谈“自由

   

Their vision like their battle scars 他们像他们的战斗伤疤愿景

Of other wars has faded 其他战争已经褪去

Like the colors on the ribbons 喜欢上了丝带的颜色

From the battles that they've won 从他们已经赢得了战斗

If there's one thing I've learned it's this 如果有一件事我学会了它的这个

You just can't shake hand with a fist 你只是不能动摇手握拳

And I once did my talkin' with a gun 我曾经做过我说话有枪

   

And, old man, I know what you've seen 而且，老家伙，我知道你已经看到

But yours is not the only dream 但你并不是唯一的梦想

I have to believe in something more than yesterday 我相信更多的东西比昨天

Let it die just like the past 让它死去，就像过去

I believe there's hope at last 我相信还有希望在最后

Old man, did you ever have to pray 老头，你有没有想过要祈祷

Old man, can you show me the way 老头，你可以给我指路

   

He shakes his head from time to time 他摇摇头，不时

And rambles somewhere in his mind 和地方漫步在他的脑海

Mumbling' 'bout the civil war 喃喃布特内战

And how we should have won 以及我们应该赢

Setting' up his battle plans 设置了他的作战计划

On checker boards at his command 在检查板在他的指挥

Watching' all his gallant kings go fallen' one by one 看着“他所有的英勇的君王倒下”一个接一个

   

And "son," he'd say, "there's not much time 和“儿子”，他会说， “没有太多时间

For you to straighten out your mind 为你理顺你的心

But you never listen to the things I try to say" 但是你从来不听的东西，我试着说“

And I just turn my head and cry 我只是把我的头哭

Never understanding why 永远不明白为什么

He'd set up that checker board 他已经成立了棋盘

When he knew I couldn't play 当他知道我能不能玩