Travelin Soldier is a song written by Bruce Robison and made popular by the Dixie Chicks. It tells the story of correspondence between a young girl and a soldier who met one time and continued to communicate while he was stationed in Vietnam. Through their letters, they share thoughts and dreams, but the story ends tragically with the soldier being killed in action. The song reflects on themes of love, longing, and the harsh realities of war.
Key: A
A
Two days past eighteen
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He was waitin' for the bus in his army green
D
Sat down in a booth, in a cafe there
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He gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
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He's a little shy so she give him a smile
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And he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
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And talkin' to me, I'm feelin' a little low
G
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She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go
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So they went down and they sat on the pier
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He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
D
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I got no one, to send a letter to
G
D
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Would you mind if I sent one back here to you
F#m
I cried
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Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
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Too young, for him they told her
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Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
F#m
Our love will never end
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Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
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Never more to be alone
E
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When the letter said, a soldier's comin' home
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So the letters came from an army camp
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In California then Afghanistan
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And he told her of his heart, it might be love
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And all of the things that he was so scared of
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He said when it's gettin' kinda rough over here
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I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
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And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
G
D
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Don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while
F#m
I cried
D
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
A
Too young, for him they told her
E
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
F#m
Our love will never end
D
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
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Never more to be alone
E
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When the letter said, a soldier's comin' home
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One Friday night at a football game
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The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
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A man said "Folks, would you bow your head
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To a list of local soldiers dead"
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Cryin' all alone under the stands
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Was a piccolo player in the marchin' band
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And one name read, and nobody really cared
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D
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But the pretty little girl, with a bow in her hair