D  G  A  G


[Verse 1]
          D                      G
He said, "mama I know you have a lot of plans for me
A
  College in the fall
      G
Hey I'm almost eighteen
                D                G
I've been doing lots of thinking   about a lot of stuff
     A                               D
Went down to the recruiter today and I signed up."


[Chorus]
       D
If not there, then where?
       Em
If not now, then when?
       D                             G
If not this, then what else can I defend?
      A
Being gone and being scared,
Bm
What else can I do?
       Em
If not me mama,
G
  If not me then who?


[Interlude]
D  G


[Verse 2]
D
  He's upstairs shaving
    G
His clothes are starched and pressed
A                           Em
  I'm down here praying, my mind is in a mess
D                             G
  I ask, "where he got, these crazy ideas anyway?"
A                                    G
  He just smiles and says, "It's the way that I was raised"


[Chorus]
       D
If not there, then where?
       Em
If not now, then when?
       D                             G
If not this, then what else can I defend?
      A
Being gone and being scared,
Bm
What else can I do?
       Em
If not me daddy,
G                D
  If not me then who?


[Bridge]
A                                   G
We wait for his letters, emails and satellite calls
         A
Then the politics,
                               G
That's number 84 wide receiver for the Wildscats
                  D             G                Em
Whose pictures is hanging in my home next to the soldier
                   G
Standing proud and tall


[Chorus]
               D
He said If not there, then where?
       Em
If not now, then when?
       D                             G
If not this, then what else can I defend?
      A
Being gone and being scared,
Bm
What else can I do?
       Em
If not me dear God,
G
  If not me then who?