I am a courier Crawling in the dirt Toward the front line As the crow flies A note stashed in my shirt From the Prince of Wales Far above the field With his marshalls And their chain-mail Their banners taut and high I did not ask him what the note said He did not offer to explain It s not my job to ask the questions I m just the courier A flare shot leaves a scar Burning in the dark On my forearms Toward the front line Then another fifty yards Crouching in the trench Clutching bayonettes A hundred men All knee-to-chest A hundred marionettes I am the string pulled by the sure hand Animating what was still I am invisible and faithful I am a courier The Captain breaks the seal And quickly reads the note On your feet boys Make you peace boys Pass those letters down To this courier Guardian of the word Hand him all you ve seen Hand him all you ve heard Hand him all your pearls And he ll go back to where he came from He will deliver each by hand He takes this as a point of honor To be a courier