Elvis Costello — I Thought Id Write To Juliet

I thought I'd write to Juliet, for she would understand And when someone is already dead They can no longer let you down Instead I find myself talking to you As my oldest friend, tell me how I can advise someone That I don't even know to welcome death For I received a letter that is worth reporting And though it may raise a cynical smile It leaves a sinking feeling Like when a soldier in a story says to the sergeant "Have you seen my pride and joy?" You know the rest and it's no joke Forgive me please as I quote: "This is a letter of thanks As I'm so bored here in I can't say where So I'm writing to people that I may never meet And I was thinking of something you said" "I'm a female soldier, my name is Constance I enlisted in the military needing funds for college I'm twenty-three years old and if I do get home alive I imagine I may think again" "I'm sleeping with my eyes open for fear of attack Your words are a comfort, they're the best things that I have Apart from family pictures and, of course, my gas mask I don't know why I am writing to you"