In honor of Veterans Day

I've always loved this song written by Bruce Robison, "Travelin' Soldier." It's been covered by many, but Bruce does it best. This one version is live and raw.

The Dixie Chicks later covered it. They're both worth a listen. The lyrics are the same, and it's the lyrics that always get me.

From Wikipedia:"'Travelin' Soldier' is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996 and again, in rewritten form, in 1999. It was later recorded by Ty England on his 1999 album, Highways & Dance Halls. The first rendition to be issued as a single was by the Dixie Chicks in December 2002 ..."

Thank you to all of our veterans who served and fought for the freedom we have today.

Lyrics:

Two days past eighteen,
he was waitin' for the bus in his army greens.
Sat down in a booth at a cafe' there,
gave his order to the girl with a bow in her hair.
He's a little shy, so she gives him a smile,
and he said, "Would you mind sittin' down for a while
and talkin' to me? I'm feelin' a little low."
She said "I'm off in an hour, and I know where we can go."

So they went down, and they sat on the pier.
He said "I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care.
I've got no one to send a letter to.
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?"

I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone
When the letter says a soldier's comin' home

So the letters came
from an army camp
in California then Vietnam.
And he told her of his heart;
it might be love,
and all of the things he was so scared of.
He said "When it's gettin kinda rough over here,
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier,
and I close my eyes and see your pretty smile.
Don't worry, but I won't be able to write for a while."

I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone
When the letter says a soldier's comin' home

One Friday night at a football game,
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang.
A man said "Folks would you bow your heads
for a list of local Vietnam dead."

Cryin' all alone under the stands
was a piccolo player in the marching band,
and one name read, and nobody really cared
but a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair.
 
I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone
When the letter says a soldier's comin' home