13 weeks of hell

This is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Marine Corps

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

Author's Note

I was 4 years old when I met my first Marine, and we talked for hours upon hours, unsure if he understood all but half of what I was saying. He had told me the things he did and what he went through to earn the uniform he wore, and I told him I wanted to be a Marine, too. Since that day, my determination and will has been set on fire, blazing in a pillar of red aura. Even now it remains as such. My heart and mind are set on the Corps, wanting to serve my country the very best I can. Most people thought it was a joke, or a phase that I was going through, and a lot of people belittled and degraded me for the choice that I made, but I chose to take this road because I was told it was hard. I never gave up, and I never quit. Quitting is a sickness, and I am not falling ill to this relentless disease.

Honor, Courage, Commitment
United States Marine Corps

Get your own valid XHTML YouTube embed code

Reviews

[Tessa Melendez]

You did a wonderful job telling your story. It's kind of inspiring and touched with a little power to the words.

[hardeep sabharwal]

A fantastic and inspiring story told in a brilliant way, I enjoyed the read and expression
good job

[AprilRN1210]

such a heartwarming, motivational, inspiring story of determination, passion, and following a dream no matter what anyone says or thinks.. too often we let others influence us when we really want something else.. I love the drive and perseverance of your spirit.. another one nicely done..

few suggestions.. my opinion.. for what it is worth..

( a come my way)... would change "a" to "to".. I dunno, flows better in my head that way..

(I finally had earned, the title of Marine).. would put "had" in front of "finally".. again, flows better in my head that way..

[Austin Jolly]

haha I knew something like that would come up! The thing is that this was inspired from a Marine Corps cadence, and the things you corrected like "a" are used as a tool of rhythm flow, to start off the new sentence with a beat and a jump. The lyrics of Marine Corps cadences are made to rhyme with the 2nd and 4th sentence usually, so things like (I finally had earned, the title of Marine) are common, because "title of Marine" is the 4th line of the section, so its made like that to rhyme with the 2nd :) "seemed" and "Marine" sound a little bit alike, and thats mainly the whole purpose to the cadences :)