Story Behind The Song
Don't let the opening lyrics fool you. This is really about self worth. Imagine risking your life for 5 years - 5 years in a deadly country and coming back home feeling as if you contributed nothing to society? I met this soldier who struck my soul -- not because he was deployed in Iraq, not because he defended our country - but because he dedicated years of his life for us - all of us. All he wanted in return was to know that his dedication mattered. To this day, I still get tears in my eyes when I think about his story. A story about a young man, who after two tours of duty, left Iraq thinking he did not make a difference in the Iraqi lives. He wanted to help them with their schools, help them with security, help them feel like things were 'back to normal.' It was the hardest song I ever had to record---I kept seeing his face, his eagerness to help, and his disappointment. The listener will notice a reggie type of sound - which was very intentional - kind of happy marching beat for the military theme, but then in the middle of the song (the bridge) the listener will hear a severe break down of the song. Again, intentional to denote the conflict that the soldier felt about leaving the Army and what we all feel when our efforts towards something do not seem to matter
Song Description
After two tours of duty, a soldier leaves the army feeling like he did not contribute in a positive way.
| Song Length |
4:00 |
Genre |
Pop - Alternative |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant |
Subject |
War |
| Similar Artists |
Crowded House |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Left in the name of honor
Many years had passed
A world away
Without support again they say
Untrained Commands
From Distant Lands
Begging to Leave
From a Country that Doesn't Believe
Why won't they
Why won't they
Believe?
(Chorus)
I'll Still Call Him my Hero
Trailing background Don't let him walk away
Each Hour of His Life
Is Back on the Line
Hopes Every Day
To Wash their Pain away
Black nights
Interrogation
Camouflaged expressions
No one hears the Ground truth
No one
No one
Wants to hear
(Chorus) 2x
Bridge
A fight for freedom
A fight for peace
A fight to end extremes
His courage & strength
'Kept us safe
Can scars heal a nation?
What would that take?
What would,
What would
That take?