Theres a story
That I love to tell
Thirteen weeks of misery
A-thirteen weeks of hell
I was livin' in the city
Oh-workin' every day
Until one day a man in blue, a-happen a come my way
I signed my name
Upon the dotted line
Packed all my trash, got on the plane, off to serve my time
They sent me to an island
A-where they made Marines
They say a thousand boys may come
But only men may leave
They issued all my gear
Combat boot and skivvy shirts
In a few short hours
They had me in the dirt
My drill instructor
A-trained me rough and hard
They taught me how to fight
They taught me how to march
In three shorts months
As long as it had seemed
I finally had earned, the title of Marine
I went to my drill instructors
And gave to them, my hand
I thanked them for their time
They made this boy a man
Oh-well do I remember
A-graduation day
As I left I swore
I wouldn't be back this way
I served my time proudly
Out in the FMF
But back at Parris Island
There was something I felt I left
So i'm back a second time
A smokey in my hand
Training you as Marine Recruits
The very best I can
I found out what I loved
In the very inn
The making of Marines
Down where it all began