“Travelin’ Soldier”
Home Free
Written by Bruce Robison
A cappella and sometimes country group Home Free are previewing their upcoming set with a cover of Bruce Robison’s “Travelin’ Soldier,” which was a No. 1 country hit for the Chicks back in 2003.
They sound beautiful on the record, borrowing more from the harmony-laden Chicks cover than the stark Robison original recording. Of course, without the bluegrass twang and heartache harmonies, the lyrics don’t pack quite as much of a punch, but it’s still a pleasant listen.
One big change is that they updated the lyrics to be about a female soldier heading off to the Middle East, leaving behind a loyal young waiter who still plays the piccolo in the marching band. This allows for the setup of the third verse to remain intact, but it doesn’t work quite as well as its original Vietnam setting. It comes off as an anachorism.
It’s still worth checking out for fans of the group, as well as of earlier recordings of “Travelin’ Soldier.”
Grade: B
These guys sound great. As far as the lyric change goes, they could have kept the Vietnam setting and still have a female element. There are 8 female nurses on the Vietnam Wall.
I’d have changed the lyric to “too old for her they told him” But I like the update to the middle east. It was the middle east when I was in high school, and again a decade later, ongoing after that.
I wish they had changed the chorus to match the change in the verses. It is jarring and stops the flow of the song. Once I read the lyrics and thought about it, I can see how the chorus fits in, but it is still clunky. I won’t be listening to their version again by choice.