“22” is written and composed by Joe DeFilippo and performed by the R.J. Phillips Band, a group of Baltimore musicians. Joe DeFilippo: vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar. Patrick McAvinue: fiddle. Bill Phelan: electric guitar. Leslie Darr: background vocals. Bill Pratt: drums, keyboards, background vocals. Produced & recorded by: Bill Pratt @ the Bratt Studio, Baltimore,MD.

“22” Lyrics

I was recruited
Young and naïve
To fight al-Qaeda
So I believed
Carried out orders
That bordered on crimes
That’s how I spent my time

In Kandahar
The children cried
Our bullets ignored
The fear in their eyes
The mothers, they begged
Down on their knees
I still hear their pleas

Now I’ve returned
Battered and bruised
My family and friends
Haven’t a clue of
The hell I created
The hell I’ve been thru
Will I join the ranks of the 22?

Prozac and Zoloft
Don’t ease the pain
Every night
My dreams are the same
The Doc at the V.A.
He just shook his head
“Try this pill”
He said

Now I’ve returned
Battered and bruised
My family and friends
Haven’t a clue of
The hell I created
The hell I’ve been thru
Will I join the ranks of the 22?