Brian Claflin Blog "(Just Like) Indiana In The Summertime" - for (& about) Mike Pence

Some songs become topical all over again! This song title is a direct quote from Mike Pence from the Iraq war. If you weren't an Indiana native, you might not have heard much about him for a while after that - - until he became second in line to the throne in the U.S.! Read the news story that described the event here: NPR: Pence Calls Baghdad "Just Like Indiana In the Summertime" Download of the song available at: Brian Claflin - Music page "(Just Like) Indiana In The Summertime" (words & music copyright ©2020 by Brian Claflin)  I'm a national guard from the Hoosier state,   my guts were saved by this armor plate when I took a bad hit to the side of my head they say I'm lucky to be more alive than dead  there's a shade of a chance that I might walk again my speech may return but I guess until then I'll just keep these thoughts to myself and see what my elected official has to say about me  I can't decide if it's amusing or cruel, they sent a delegation on April Fool's declaring the capital of the front line safe as mother's milk, just like Indiana in the summertime  it's hard to know exactly whether to take it all seriously or as an honest mistake those Washington boys always hedge their bets maybe it's a joke that I just don't get  the sun shone down on the Congressman for all the eyes of the world to scan in a bullet proof vest, a twinkle in his eye while a few black hawks circled up in the sky  with a hundred good men being all they can be out for a Sunday drive in their new humvees feel like I've been here before, what does this remind me of? Oh, I've got it! It's just like Indiana in the summertime   bridge: he came to my suite at the VA club and said he'd fix the leaks and replace the rug then he flew to the market where I took my hit and charmed us all with his wisdom and wit you know, he's a veteran himself, so I guess I should trust in him, 'cause he seems to know best he says everything is perfectly fine out there in the desert, just like Indiana in the summertime  when I first signed up I would never have thought that I'd really end up having served and fought even just taking shots at University kids, let alone 'round the world, doing what I did  coming home to where nobody seems to know what the news cameras all still refuse to show winning a purple heart, and losing face between "a rock" and another hard place  there's car bomb going off down the street that was close, I nearly got out with both my feet what with that, the snipers, and the odd landmine it's a sweet haven, just like Indiana in the summertime  I'm a national guard from the Hoosier state did I miss anything? I'm sorry I'm late the pain's all gone, and I'm walking proud through the ticker tape in the cheering crowd  the birds are singing in the bright sunshine and I'm seein' all these dear lost buddies of mine, I swear to god, I thought you boys was dead last I knew, you were wrapped up in blue white and red  Who knows if the senator's wrong or right it hardly matters from within this white light so strangely familiar, and so sublime feels just like home, just like Indiana in the summertime