Playlist for an Old Soldier | Walk a Mile in MY Boots

A few of my Hubber Friends have published some playlists recently so I thought I’d join in and post up a few of my favorites. These are what I call ‘Old Soldier’ songs though four of the last five are, I would suppose, technically love songs. But the emotional intensity of combat operations is often replicated in love.  Survival, brings a heightened sense of wonder and appreciation of the beauty of a woman who loves you. So the love songs are integral to being an ‘OLD’ soldier.

George Thorogood’s classic is dedicated to every infantryman who has fixed a bayonet in the darkness knowing he would need it at the dawn. I did some liaison work with these lads in Germany in the 90’s. They are some of the world’s finest soldiers.

This Doors hit paints an Air Assault picture in my mind. Riding the Huey with no doors and the door gunners laying down suppressive fire as we approach the LZ…

I think this is a protest song you have to earn the right to sing.

Here is a Willie Nelson and Ray Charles duet. What else can I say?

After a hard day of chasing and killing bad guys this is what you want first. Sex is right behind that.

Highlights a time in my life I can’t say I’m particularly proud of, but sometimes you have to see how low you can go before you can get to the intersection with the high road.

Bobby Bare’s 3^rd Verse says it all…

“ A lowly bench warmer I'm contented to be.

Until the time when you have need of me.

The flash on the big scoreboard. That shines from on high.

The big superbowl way up in the sky.”

This song is what comes to mind at the end of the first date with ‘the one’, I think the feeling was mutual with Zena. It was first recorded in 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra; It has since been recorded world wide over 50 more times. I think this is the best version though Mama Cass did it well also.

When it’s love it’s this. John Denver just had a way about putting the feeling in it that few others can do.

I don’t think this song ever got to the states but it was on the “Top of The Pops” show in England in the spring of 1981 when Zena and I met. Sort of fits for a soldier and his honey. If you only listen to one enjoy this one it’s pretty cool.

As the light at the end of life’s tunnel starts to grow bigger. Sarah Brightman's recording of this song vocalizes a perspective that I think every soldier understands.

“Sleep tight. The reaper's waiting in the wings.

Sleep tight. To reap a man of many things.

Sleep tight. Look through the eyes of destiny.

Sleep tight. We find the kingdom but He holds the key.

Sleep tight”

If you are my age you can remember when the TV stations ended their broadcast day with the National Anthem. So I’ll end this Hub with it as well. I heard them say in both the movies “Gladiator” and “Troy” that what we do today echoes in eternity. Well if I leave an echo for generations to hear in the vast expanse of time, let it be this….

PS Well folks, it’s been a while since I last published anything, or hung out in the forums. Nothing has been wrong, just getting adjusted to a new job, and schedule. I have been reading a lot of the hubs of folks I follow but generally don’t comment unless I think I have something useful to add. To my Hubber Friends rest confident in the knowledge that I have been reading and you’ll get a green button push even when I don’t comment.