PRIVET HEDGES

This is so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.  Written by Rachel Peepers at Eternity Road

PRIVET HEDGES

(verses)
The first brigade was standing in formation
One goodbye away from flying off to war
While the CO spoke of duty and dedication
Their family’s tears fell like they never did before

A little girl walked up as they stood at attention
She reached up to hold a Marine Sergeant’s hand
He didn’t recognize her, she didn’t look familiar
Why she picked him he did not understand

CHORUS

She smelled of privet hedges in the springtime
The kind that he grew up with in his hometown
Her hair was gold the color of cornfields
And eyes a deep shade of chestnut brown

(verses)
His third patrol started out like the others
Down a dusty road though a quiet town
Three Humvees and forty men advancing
It seemed like no one knew they were around

When suddenly the smell of privet hedges
And the golden hue of the sun shown down
and on a Humvee somebody’d written the name Sarah
The Sergeant quickly gave the order to slow down

The first barrage landed short by 30 meters
Then small arms fire came in like pelting rain
No one was hit and he called in the copters
And 16 attackers were not heard from again

There were many more patrols for that young sergeant
Who had a reputation for smelling trouble a mile away
And after their tour of duty ended
His entire unit they came home to stay

His hometown they all came out to greet them
A reserve detachment all hundred forty four
Somewhere in between all the hugs and kisses
He thought he saw the girl he’d seen before

CHORUS

She smelled of privet hedges in the springtime
The kind that he grew up with in his hometown
Her hair was gold the color of cornfields
And eyes a deep shade of chestnut brown

(verses)
The years past and he worked his farmland
His kids grew up, he and his wife their hair turned gray
At 89 he developed some heart problems
And in his hospital room there was a spray

That smelled of privet hedges in the springtime
Wrapped in pretty paper that had a golden tone
The note said simply, “Much love, Sarah”
After one last kiss, his loving wife went home

It was almost dawn when he awoke and felt much better
Breathing deep like he was young once more
Then he noticed sitting in the corner
Was the little girl that he’d seen before.

He smiled and said you must be Sarah
And she said, you’re my Marine so brave and strong
He took the hand of his little guardian angel
In the blink of an eye the both of them were gone

She smelled of privet hedges in the springtime
The kind that he grew up with in his hometown
Her hair was gold the color of cornfields
And eyes a deep shade of chestnut brown