Travelin' Soldier
Bruce Robison Lyrics
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He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she give him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
cnd talking to me, I'm feeling a little low
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I 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
c soldier's coming home
So the letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
cnd 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 getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
cnd 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
c soldier's coming home
One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
c man said folks would you bow your head
For the list of local Vietnam dead
Crying all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
cnd 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
c soldier's coming home
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
c soldier's coming home
In Bruce Robison's poignant song "Travelin' Soldier," the narrative unfolds with a young man, just past eighteen, in his army green waiting for a bus. Amidst the backdrop of a cafe, he encounters a girl with a bow in her hair, sparking a shy yet hopeful interaction. As they converse, he shares his loneliness and his longing for connection, expressing his desire to write to her in the absence of anyone else. This initial meeting sets the stage for a bittersweet romance defined by distance and the promise of return.
As the story progresses, the soldier writes letters from afar, detailing his experiences in the army camp and later in Vietnam. Despite the challenges he faces, he finds solace in memories of their time together on the pier, holding onto the image of her smile as a beacon of hope amidst hardship. The lyrics poignantly capture the longing and uncertainty that come with loving someone who is far away, as well as the resilience and love that endure through written words and imagined moments shared across the distance.
The narrative takes a tragic turn as the community mourns local Vietnam casualties during a football game. Amidst the solemn moment, a poignant detail emerges: the girl with the bow in her hair, who had waited and hoped for her soldier's return, discovers his name among the fallen. The juxtaposition of the public acknowledgment of the soldiers' deaths with the private grief of the girl underscores the personal toll of war and the sacrifice made by those who serve.
In its conclusion, the song circles back to the emotional core of the story, emphasizing the enduring love and unwavering devotion of the girl who had patiently awaited her soldier's return. The repetition of the refrain underscores the enduring nature of their love, even in the face of tragedy and loss. Through its vivid storytelling and heartfelt lyrics, "Travelin' Soldier" captures the complexities of love, longing, and sacrifice in the context of war, ultimately leaving a lasting impact on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Two days past eighteen
A young man was just past his eighteenth birthday
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
He stood in his military uniform waiting for the bus
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
He took a seat in a cafe booth
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He placed an order with a girl wearing a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she give him a smile
Feeling shy, he smiled when she did
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
He asked her to sit and talk with him for a bit
And talking to me, I'm feeling a little low
Expressing that he felt a bit down and wanted to talk
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go
She offered to meet him after work and showed him a place they could go
So they went down and they sat on the pier
They went to the pier and sat down together
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
He assumed she had a boyfriend but didn't mind
I got no one to send a letter to
He had no one to write letters to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you
He asked if he could write to her
One Friday night at a football game
During a Friday night football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
The Lord's Prayer was recited and the national anthem sung
And a man said folks would you bow your head
A man asked everyone to bow their heads
For the list of local Vietnam dead
To honor the local soldiers who died in Vietnam
Crying all alone under the stands
A girl cried alone beneath the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
The girl was a piccolo player in the marching band
and one name read and nobody really cared
One name was read but no one paid attention
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair
Except for the pretty girl with a bow in her hair
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Bruce Robison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind