i think this is about the vietnam war like ericdawingnut said broken arrow was used in vietnam
"18 years of american dream" he was drafted at 18
"did you see them in the river they were there to wave to you" then in the next verse it is "did you see him in the river..." a group of americans were crossing a river and were mowed down by vietnamese soldiers and were waving for help to other americans
they married for peace and were gone north vietnam and south vietnam were joined and the americans left
however none of this makes much sense in context with the rest of the song
i think this is about the vietnam war like ericdawingnut said broken arrow was used in vietnam "18 years of american dream" he was drafted at 18 "did you see them in the river they were there to wave to you" then in the next verse it is "did you see him in the river..." a group of americans were crossing a river and were mowed down by vietnamese soldiers and were waving for help to other americans they married for peace and were gone north vietnam and south vietnam were joined and the americans left
however none of this makes much sense in context with the rest of the song