Cold Missouri Waters

My name is Dodge but then you know that
 It's written on the chart there at the foot end of the of the bed
 They think I'm blind that I can't read it
 I've read it every word and every word it says is death
 So confession Is that the reason that you came
 Get it off my chest before I check out of the game
 Since you mention it well there's thirteen things I'll name
 Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters
 August 49 North Montana
 The hottest day on record the forest tinder dry
 Lightning strikes in the mountains
 I was crew chief at the jump base
 I prepared the boys to fly
 Pick the drop zone C47 comes in low
 Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you go
 See the circle of the fire down below
 Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters
 Gauged the fire I'd seen bigger
 So I ordered them to side hill we'd fight it from below
 We'd have our backs to the river
 We'd have it licked by morning even if we took it slow
 But the fire crowned jumped the valley just ahead
 There was no way down headed for the ridge instead
 Too big to fight it we'd have to fight that slope instead
 Flames one step behind above the cold Missouri waters
 Sky had turned red smoke was boiling
 Two hundred yards to saftey
 Death was fifty yards behind
 I don't know why I just thought it
 I struck a match to waist high grass running out of time
 Tried to tell them step into this fire I've set
 We can't make it this is the only chance you'll get
 But they cursed me
 Ran for the rocks above instead
 I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters
 Then when I rose like the phoenix
 In that world reduced to ashes
 There was none but two survived
 I stayed that night and one day after
 Carried bodies to the river
 Wondering how I stayed alive
 Thirteen stations of the cross to mark their fall
 I've had my say I'll confess to nothing more
 I'll join them now those that they left me long before
 Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters