If Yankees1 weren't there,
You'd all live in Germanyland2
Talking about whatever,
Greeting whoever.
Of course, years have passed
And guns changed hands
But is it a good reason to forget
That one day we needed it?
A guy from Georgia
And who was jerking you around
Has died on Normandy beaches
One morning when you weren't over there.
Of course, years have passed
And we became friends.
At the Veterans of Foreign Wars'3
Some say they have fallen for nothing
[But] If the Yankees weren't there
You'd all live in Germanyland
Talking about whatever,
Greeting whoever.
1. "Ricains" is a short name for Americans, usually pejorative.2. Implied that some parts of France would be German3. Lots of French associations work hard to keep WW2 memory alive