Song Lyrics: "Victory at Antietam"

the rain comes pouring down, it wont subside
the earth consumes the part of me that died
for on that field it was that i first learned
that to progress, your past must first be burned

ive fought, ive won the war, but at what cost?
can one be victorious and still have lost?
when blood is shed and you can see the light,
how can you smile and think youve won the fight?

and victory, i know, is not so sweet
when laced with the bitterness of defeat
how can you separate what looks the same?
the good--so bad, and the bad, with which weve gained

ive fought, ive won the war, but at what cost?
can one be victorious and still have lost?
when blood is shed and you can see the light,
how can you smile and think youve won the fight?

on i walk
a broken man picking up the remnants of a life now gone
unable to tell the faces of the dead from those who still breathe
the flag of victory is stained with the blood of deafeat
there is no hope for tomorrow
there is no hope for today

ive fought, ive won the war, but at what cost?
can one be victorious and still have lost?
when blood is shed and you can see the light,
how can you smile and think youve won the fight?

when nightmares pale next to reality
the hope i cling to is insanity