Mia Patel
Travelin' Soldier is a song by the Dixie Chicks, from their sixth studio album Home, released in 2002. The song was originally recorded and written by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996 and then rewritten in 1999. The song is about a young girl who falls in love with a soldier during the Vietnam War era and the correspondence that forms their relationship. The Dixie Chicks' version of the song climbed to the top of the country charts as a single before the band's public criticism of then-President George W. Bush led to a boycott of their music.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song | Travelin' Soldier |
| Artist | Dixie Chicks |
| Album | Home |
| Year | 2002 |
| Songwriters | Bruce Robison |
| Songwriters' Recording Years | 1996, 1999 |
| Other Recording Artists | Ty England |
| Other Recording Artists' Recording Year | 1999 |
| Song Length | 5:44 |
| Music Video Length | 6:33 |
| Chart Position | #1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs |
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What You'll Learn
- Travelin' Soldier was written and originally recorded by Bruce Robison in 1996
- The song was later recorded by Ty England in 1999
- Dixie Chicks' version of the song was released on their 2002 album 'Home'
- The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart
- The Dixie Chicks' career declined after lead singer Natalie Maines criticised George W. Bush
Travelin' Soldier was written and originally recorded by Bruce Robison in 1996
"Travelin' Soldier" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996. It was recorded again in rewritten form in 1999. The song was later recorded by Ty England on his 1999 album, Highways & Dance Halls.
The first rendition of "Travelin' Soldier" to be issued as a single was by the Chicks, then known as the Dixie Chicks, for their third major-label album, "Home" in 2002. The song was released as the third single from the album on December 9, 2002, after the Chicks performed it at the 2001 Country Music Association Awards. It debuted at No. 58 on the Hot Country Songs chart on February 16, 2002, based on a live recording from the Country Music Association telecast in November 2001. It peaked at No. 57 but later climbed to No. 1 on the same chart in early 2003.
"Travelin' Soldier" is a tale about a shy, lonesome, young American soldier who strikes up a conversation and later a correspondence with a young girl during the Vietnam War era. It paints a vivid image of a small-town Friday night at the local high school football field when the girl learns of her soldier's fate.
The Dixie Chicks' version of the song faced some controversy when the group's lead singer, Natalie Maines, expressed her displeasure with then-President George W. Bush's pro-war stance. Country radio stations pulled "Travelin' Soldier" from their playlists, and within weeks the song had disappeared. The career of the Dixie Chicks went into decline after this incident.
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The song was later recorded by Ty England in 1999
"Travelling Soldier" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996 and again in 1999. The song was later recorded by Ty England in 1999 on his album Highways & Dance Halls. The song is about a shy, lonesome, young American soldier who strikes up a conversation and later a correspondence with a young girl during the Vietnam War era.
The song was recorded by the Chicks (then known as the Dixie Chicks) for their third major label album, Home, in 2002. It was released as the third single from the album on December 9, 2002, and soon climbed to the top of the country charts. The group performed the song before its release at the 2001 Country Music Association Awards.
The Dixie Chicks' version of the song is particularly notable because it was climbing the charts to number one around the same time that the U.S. was sending young people to fight in Afghanistan. However, the song began to be pulled from radio playlists after lead singer Natalie Maines expressed her displeasure with then-President George W. Bush from the concert stage because of his pro-war stance. Within weeks, the song had disappeared, and the career of the Dixie Chicks went into decline.
Despite the controversy, "Travelling Soldier" remains a well-loved and emotional song that resonates with many people who have lost loved ones to war.
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Dixie Chicks' version of the song was released on their 2002 album 'Home'
"Travelin' Soldier" is a song by the Dixie Chicks, an American country music band. It was released on their 2002 album, Home. The song was originally written and recorded by Bruce Robison in 1996 and then again in rewritten form in 1999. Robison's version of the song did not receive much attention. However, when the Dixie Chicks recorded it for their album Home, it became a huge success. The song climbed to the top of the country charts and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The song tells the story of a lovelorn teenage girl waiting for the return of a young Army soldier she barely knows. It paints a vivid image of a small-town Friday night at a local high school football game. The soldier's name is read out as one of the local Vietnam War dead, and only the girl recognises his name. The lyrics are filled with Americana details and describe the correspondence and relationship that develop between the two, despite the distance.
The Dixie Chicks' version of "Travelin' Soldier" is notable for its acoustic bluegrass sound, which marked a departure from their previous country-pop albums. The song was released as the third single from the album Home and debuted on the country charts based on its live performance on February 16, 2002, peaking at number 57. The song's music video was later created using footage from the 2001 CMA Awards, where the song was performed a year before its official release.
The success of "Travelin' Soldier" was short-lived due to controversial remarks made by the Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, who publicly criticised then-President George W. Bush for his pro-war stance. As a result, country radio stations pulled the song from their playlists, and the Dixie Chicks' career declined. Despite the backlash, the song remains a memorable and emotional tribute to those who have lost loved ones to war.
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The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart
"Travelling Soldier" by the Dixie Chicks reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song was released as a single from their sixth studio album, "Home", which came out on 27 August 2002. The song was originally written and recorded by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996 and then again in 1999. It was also recorded by Ty England in 1999.
"Travelling Soldier" is a tale about a shy, lonesome young American soldier who strikes up a conversation and later a correspondence with a young girl during the Vietnam War era. The song details the relationship that forms between the two, despite the distance. The last letter from the soldier mentions that "it's gettin' kinda rough over here" and that he "won't be able to write for a while". The song ends with the girl learning of the soldier's fate at a football game at her high school.
The Dixie Chicks' version of the song climbed the charts and was well-received, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. However, the song's success was short-lived due to lead singer Natalie Maines' public criticism of then-President George W. Bush, which triggered a backlash and boycott of the group's music by country radio stations. Despite the controversy, "Travelling Soldier" remains a memorable and acclaimed country song that has left an impact on the music industry.
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The Dixie Chicks' career declined after lead singer Natalie Maines criticised George W. Bush
The Dixie Chicks' career declined after the group's lead singer, Natalie Maines, criticised then-US President George W. Bush and his pro-war stance on the invasion of Iraq. On March 10, 2003, nine days before the invasion, Maines introduced the group's song "Travelin' Soldier" at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London, England, with the following statement:
> Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.
Maines' comments caused a backlash, with country radio stations pulling "Travelin' Soldier" from their playlists. The song had been climbing the charts and had reached number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart before the controversy. Within weeks, it had disappeared from the top 40. Local radio stations organised CD-burning protests, and US conglomerates banned the Dixie Chicks from the airwaves, severely damaging their career.
The Dixie Chicks became known as "Dixie Sluts", "Saddam's Angels", and "traitors", and their conservative fans were shocked by Maines' statements. The band's nomination for Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2003 was announced to boos, and the award went to Toby Keith, who had displayed a doctored photo of Maines and Saddam Hussein at his concerts. Maines initially apologised for her comments but rescinded her apology in 2006, stating that Bush deserved no respect. The Dixie Chicks' single "Not Ready to Make Nice", released that year, addressed the criticism they received.
The incident had a lasting impact on the country music industry, with artists becoming cautious about expressing their political views. Being "Dixie Chicked" became shorthand for career suicide, and the group's experience was cited as an influence by later country artists, including Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and Kacey Musgraves. Despite the controversy, the Dixie Chicks have continued their career, releasing the comeback single "Gaslighter" in 2020.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dixie Chicks released 'Travelin' Soldier' on their album 'Home'.
The Dixie Chicks released 'Home' on 27 August 2002.
No, 'Travelin' Soldier' was written and originally recorded by Bruce Robison in 1996 and again in 1999.
Yes, the song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Yes, the Dixie Chicks faced backlash for publicly criticising then-US President George W. Bush while touring for the album 'Home'.
