LIEUTENANT, SIR

Dammit, Lieutenant, Sir!

We left headquarters

and while in constant radio contact

we got on the highway

and at mile 41,

near the road maintenance building

we hid our car so well

that you could see that it wasn't there.

And we set up our radar detector

and issued tickets mercilessly

to anyone over 50,

even over 50 years old.

And we caught one without a license.

Dammit, Lieutenant, Sir!

 

It was burning hot,

the highway seemed like an oven:

the asphalt was sending up heatwaves

that smeared out the horizon

And just like that, all sweaty,

that we heard about that foul deed

in which those guys were killed,

thrown to the ground like a dirty rag,

scattered like people

blown to bits by an explosive,

which, if not used for good,

can become so rotten

that afterwards almost nothing remains.

Dammit, Lieutenant, Sir!

 

And we are here,

in these uniforms,

which are often constraining,

especially since they've been made

the brunt of jokes.

And we are tired of putting up with

what happens in this country,

where we have us killed

for little more than a five hundred bucks a month.

And there is something here in my throat,

which I just can't swallow,

and making it go down is really hard

if the one who kills us earns more

than honest folks.

Dammit, Lieutenant, Sir!

 

I know that I'm addressing the commander,

but how long will it be,

sitting in the squadcar,

that the voice on the radio will make us shake.

Yeah, we've got a lot of courage,

but it keeps getting harder

when we have to face

the courage which comes from fear.

And this is what's going on now:

but then if there's an emergency call

you take it and you go anyway.

And excuse me if all this is nothing!

Dammit, Lieutenant, Sir!

 

For this, if you consider that I'm 20,

I really bet you won't think I'm wrong;

if you can put yourself in my shoes,

maybe you won't report me.

And I'll tell you sincerely:

Dammit, Lieutenant, Sir!

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