Our Soldiers Through The Eyes (and Ears) Of Country Music

Nominees in the current presidential race and country music, alike, like to discuss our troops; how to use them, how to keep them safe. And nominees in the current presidential race and country music, alike, have watched society change their perception and adoration of soldiers in the many years after 9/11 resulting in a change of pace for both of them.

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With the race for presidential nominations in full swing, it feels necessary to discuss our troops. Our soldiers are such an integral part of our society and decisions on who should run our country next should most definitely be made with them in mind. Where we are virtually unsure if Donald Trump really was the first to disagree with sending our soldiers into Iraq many moons ago, we know exactly how country music artists felt and feel about our soldiers. The U.S. cares a lot about its soldiers and takes great pride in the freedom our troops so willingly fight for, so it's no surprise that country music would portray that in its songs. Where we rarely hear what it's like to be in the military or to have someone you love in the military go off to war from these presidential nominees (the amount of these nominees this year could be counted on one hand), country music artists let us in to that world so we might get the slightest glimpse of what being in this position is really like.

Here's a look at how various country music songs have painted the act of being a soldier in the last fifteen years.

Travelin' Soldier – Dixie Chicks (2002)

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So this one might be my favorite Dixie Chicks tune. This story of a girl who happens to meet the love her life while working her shift as a waitress is one that will turn even the coldest of hearts to mush. Her love just happens to be a soldier in the Vietnam War. She spends her days and weeks waiting for letters from her boy and soon realizes that her one true love won't be returning. *sobbing*

-What this song says about soldiers: This song does a dang good job at representing the feeling of separation that soldiers' loved ones feel. However, it also shows the loneliness that is commonly synonymous with being a soldier. What brought this couple together was the fact that the soldier didn't have anyone to talk to. He was about to go off to war and had no family, nothing. He was empty. That is why he talked to this girl in the first place; he just wanted someone to read his letters and write back to him.

-Why this song stands out: This song is so important because it's from a woman's perspective. It's common for country music to talk about soldiers, but uncommon for women country artists to talk about soldiers. In a time where women are represented in the military, just as much, if not more than men, it's necessary for women to be singing about soldiers and about being soldiers too. This song is also interesting because it's popularity stems from country music loving this type of song after 9/11; however, the soldier the Dixie Chicks are referencing is one from the Vietnam War. This country girl group widened the gap of soldier-songs by doing this.

-Lyric worth talking about: "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 coming home"

American Soldier – Toby Keith (2003)

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Toby Keith displays the immense pride a soldier possesses in this song dedicated to the men and women that put all else aside to fight for our country. He starts the song by displaying a vivid picture of a soldier that plays the role of dad, husband, etc. by singing as him. The soldier in this story says that it's not for the money, or the success, it's not for the praise; it's all because it's what he should do. He's been given so much freedom that he feels he should do that for someone else. He leaves everything behind and goes to fight for our country.

-What this song says about soldiers: Songs about soldiers missing home and writing letters to their loves at home are great and all, but Toby gives us something very different with this one. This song reminds us of how humble these soldiers are. Sure they're brave beyond belief, but they're also normal people with families and dreams and admirations. This song is an important reminder at the sacrifices that soldiers make on a daily basis in order to do something that protects us all.

-Why this songs stands out: Toby Keith has always been open about his opinions on politics, which makes this song even better. Being that this song comes after a heavily controversial number "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", all eyes were on Keith and all ears were waiting for him to come out with a similar derogatory song about American soldiers. To much surprise, his patriotic nature led him to write this about all of the people he met and stories he heard while performing USO shows. "I feel like "American Soldier" is as good a tribute to the soldiers as I can ever do." Country music very much agreed with Keith on this one.

-Lyric worth talking about: "Oh, and I don't want to die for you/ But if dying's asked of me/ I'll bear that cross with honor/ 'Cause freedom don't come free"

Letters From Home – John Michael Montgomery (2004)

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John Michael Montgomery has not had a lot of success in the hits category, but “Letters From Home” definitely is a hit. This upbeat number is from the perspective of many different people in a soldier’s life and also the soldier, himself. It starts with his mom writing a letter to him from a world away filling him in on everything that is going on; then his girlfriend follows, and to much surprise and emotion, so does his dad. (His dad’s letter actually makes me cry. No big deal.)

-What this song says about soldiers: In a more positive way, this song opens us up on how soldiers react to things like receiving letters from home. We often hear about how people send letters to soldiers or what it’s like for the soldier to write the letter but in this song we get a glimpse of the playfulness that comes with showing your moms letter to your fellow troops, and the jokes that come with getting a letter from your girlfriend calling you “honey,” and even the tears that come with a much anticipated letter from your dad. JMM sings about soldiers being there for one another over seas and through his descriptions we see that vividly. Soldiers rely on one another. They’re friends but, even better, they’re family.

-Why this songs stands out: You might be thinking, “Wow! This song was the most energetic, makes-me-feel-kinda-happy song so far on this list,” and you would be totally right. I think what makes this song most impactful is the fact that the instrumentals aren’t sad and depressing. This song discusses, some might say, a hard topic, but it doesn’t come across that way in presentation. This song is easier to listen to, even though it does have some sad areas (the dad part… Still upset about it).

-Lyric worth talking about: “I hold it up and show my buddies/ Like we ain’t scared and our boots ain’t muddy/ And they all laugh ‘cause she calls me honey/ But they take it hard, ‘cause I don’t read the good parts”

Arlington – Trace Adkins (2005)

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I'm more of a "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" girl when it come to Trace Adkins but this tune is a lot more impactful (in a more meaningful way, of course). This song tells the story of a fallen soldier, from his perspective, who gets laid to rest at Arlington (a national cemetery in Virginia for the nation's fallen military). The lyrics of the song portray a message that is bittersweet. He's proud of what he did for our country, he's not proud that he's dead and all he gets is "a plot of land." He describes it as something that you accomplish; however, people don't like to see death as an accomplishment.

-What this song says about soldiers: Being that it's from the perspective of a dead person, we hear something that we don't usually hear in country music. Yeah, this soldier was brave, but this soldier doesn't feel like the final resting place of Arlington is enough for what he's done. I think this opens up how many soldiers feel upon returning from war. There are other things that these soldiers want to do. They are satisfied by fighting for our country and even at the mere thought of dying for our country, but dying is scary for anyone and Adkins shares that in this song.

-Why this songs stands out: A song about the death of a soldier hits country music hard. Country music likes when you talk about heroes fighting for our freedom, they like when you sing about how hard it is to fight for your country, they like when you show patriotism and where red, white and blue; country music doesn't necessarily know how to handle the glorification of a soldiers death, however. This song stands out, because, frankly, we don't see a lot of opposition to the U.S. and it's military tactics.

-Lyric worth talking about: "I never thought that this where I'd settle down/ I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown/ They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men, for a job well done"

If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw (2007)

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Like Adkins' “Arlington,” this song comes from the viewpoint of a fallen American soldier; however, this song differs completely in motive and tone. This song is in the form of a letter from a soldier saying his final goodbyes to his loved ones. The soldier in this song couldn't have been more proud to have died for American freedom. He knows he's missing out on things in life (the birth of his daughter *weeps*) but knows that where he's at is ultimately where he's supposed to be. It's a letter assuring his family that he is okay, which is just what every family wants to hear.

-What this song says about soldiers:This song displays the courage of a soldier. This is the most easily taken death song that I've ever heard. He is so okay with how he died and what he's done for his country is which is a kind of bravery that every listener envies. Soldiers really are brave and courageous and everything they ought to be and this song really shows that.

-Why this songs stands out: McGraw debuted this song at the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards where he brought families of fallen soldiers onstage to honor them. That is what this song lies heavily on: honor. That’s why this song, one that wasn’t even recorded in a studio, was so successful. This song really shows compassion towards, not only the fallen soldier, but the people he left behind. This song puts the listener in the shoes of someone saying goodbye to their son/husband/brother and, like always, even in the slightest bit people enjoy heartbreak.

-Lyric worth talking about: “I’m laying down my gun/ I’m hangin’ up my boots/ Tell dad I don’t regret that I followed in his shoes”

Just a Dream – Carrie Underwood (2007)

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Cue the tears. What better way to end this list than with a Carrie Underwood heartbreak ballad, am I right? We end with a song about a young girl who got married the day before her husband deployed to the army. That would be their only day as a married couple because he would never return. The song follows the new widow to her husband's funeral and, thus, we cry endless tears.

-What this song says about soldiers: This song shows a widows perspective. It shows that soldiers and their families live as though they're on pins and needles. The fact that the soldier felt the need to marry her prior to leaving for war says a lot about what he expected to happen. Living life in the military is something that is uncertain and it can't ever be certain. Carrie does a pretty amazing job at giving us that idea with this song.

-Why this songs stands out: People want to hear this song because it's from a widow's point of view. That is interesting to listeners; they don't like to talk about death, but heartbreak because of death is a-okay. This song cuts listeners right where they are forced to feel sentimental and sad about a situation they know nothing about. This kind of song leaves girls aching for a love that powerful that death could mean such a terrible thing. And it just so happens to be a soldier song…

-Lyric worth talking about: "And the guns rang one last shot/ And it felt like a bullet in her heart"

Whether it's the Dixie Chicks or Tim McGraw, the overall feeling we get from country music towards soldiers is gratitude. Country music enables us to step into the shoes of a soldier or someone close to one for four minutes and for those four minutes, we understand. I think it would be an advantage (*wink wink*) to the presidential nominees without this kind of background to listen to country music and to grasp what being a soldier is all about. It is an important business and for us to discuss it we must first understand it. Thank you for that, Country Music.

And a special thank you to all U.S. Troops.