Karen in her father’s shirt at the 2015 reunion.
“The Shirt” is a song written to honor veterans of the 87th Infantry Division at their 67th annual reunion, which was held in Warwick, RI in September 2016. The video below was recorded by Craig Stiegemeier, and begins with Karen Lilley explaining the story which inspired Nashville song-writer and performer, Ricky Ray, to put the story to music. The recording was made while Ricky Ray was travelling, as he wanted to make sure it arrived in time to be shared, so the acoustics are not superior. However, we have included the lyrics which you might want to read before you listen. We are told that Ricky Ray forwarded this recording to his friend, Willie Nelson, and that sometime he would like to re-record it. In the event that a new recording is released, we will keep you posted.
We hope you enjoy this tribute to all veterans and to those who love them.
Lyrics are posted below the video.
THE SHIRT
By Ricky Ray
Copyright 2016 by Ricky Ray Music
Inspired by seeing Karen Lilley, the daughter of Bob Purple (A-346), wearing her father’s discharge shirt at the 66th reunion of the 87th Infantry Division reunion in Nashville, TN, September 2015
NOW, I LIVED IN A LOCKER TILL EARLY LAST YEAR
TILL HIS DAUGHTER GOT ME CLEANED AND BROUGHT ME HERE,
I SEEN ALOTTA TROUBLE BUT I DID MY WORK
GOD BLESSED AMERICA
AND PEACE ON THIS EARTH
THERE’S A WHOLE LOTTA PEOPLE THAT DON’T KNOW WHAT WENT ON,
ALL THE TEARS AND LIVES IT COST TO MAKE THIS PLACE A HOME
SOME GAVE UP FREEDOM – THEY’LL NEVER BE ALONE
GOD BLESSED AMERICA
AND PEACE ON THIS EARTH
IF YOU ONLY KNEW THE DAYS I BELIEVED IN SOMETHIN’ OTHER THAN MY SELF
IT’S ALL THAT GOT ME HERE – THERE’S A STORY I CAN TELL
EVERY THREAD YOU SEE IN ME IS FROM ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME
HIS DAUGHTER WEARS IT WELL YOU CAN SEE IT IN HER SMILE
GOD BLESSED AMERICA
AND PEACE ON EARTH
GOD BLESSED AMERICA
LET’S HAVE PEACE ON EARTH
NOW I LIVED IN A LOCKER TILL EARLY LAST YEAR
TILL HIS DAUGHTER GOT ME CLEANED AND BROUGHT ME HERE,
I WIPED ALOTTA TEARS WITH MY SLEEVES BUT I DID MY BEST
GOD BLESSED AMERICA
LET’S HAVE PEACE ON EARTH!
