19, the number on his back, voted captain of his high school football team
Took us all the way to state got a scholarship to play up in Tennessee
He could run, he could duck, he could throw, he could go like you've never seen;19
On the day those towers came down his whole world turned around
He told them all y'all I can't play ball - there's a war on now
So he walked right down with a few good men and joined the marines, at 19

Chorus:
He's the boy next door, Might have carried your bags at the grocery store
Now he's somebody's son in a hole with a gun in some foreign land
Trying to hold on to his American dreams; 19

There's a sniper out there in the dark somewhere and a soldier down
And we need someone who can run, who can duck; go get him out
Ain't there one good man who will raise his hand and take one for the team
How about you 19?

Chorus
He's the boy next door, used to carry your bags at the grocery store
Now he's somebody's son in a hole with a gun in some foreign land
Trying to hold on to his American dreams; 19

They brought him home today with a big parade down on main street
He got a purple heart, a silver star, a soldier gave a speech
He could run, he could duck, he could throw, he's the one that rescued me
He could have played for Tennessee
Number 19

He was 19