"Travelin' Soldier" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996 and again, in rewritten form, in 1999. It was later recorded by Ty England on his 1999 album, Highways & Dance Halls. The first rendition to be issued as a single was by the Dixie Chicks, who recorded the song for their third major label album Home (2002). It was released as the third single from the album on December 9, 2002. The group performed the song before its release at the 2001 Country Music Association Awards. It was recorded in 2021 by the group Home Free as part of their album, Land of the Free.
Receiving acclaim, "Travelin' Soldier" reached number 1 on the BillboardHot Country Songs chart, then titled the "Hot Country Singles & Tracks" chart.
On November 7, 2025, country singer Cody Johnson released his cover of the song in honor of the Veterans Day holiday.[1]
Content
The song 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. Americana details pervade the lyrics as the song details the correspondence as a relationship forms between the two, despite the insurmountable distance. The last letter from the soldier mentions that "it's gettin' kinda rough over here" and he "won't be able to write for a while" before skipping ahead to a football game at the girl's high school. After the anthem and Lord's Prayer, the local soldiers who died in the war are announced. The soldier's name is on the list, but only the girl, who is there, recognizes his name. She mourns for him as stated in the line "One name read and nobody really cared but a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair."
A version of the song featuring Natalie Maines, Bruce Robison and Robison's wife, Kelly Willis, appears on KGSR's Broadcasts Vol. 13 album.[2]
Critical reception
Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, rated the song No. 17 on his list of the 201 Greatest Singles of the Decade. He stated that "it's the story between the lines that drives home the tragedy, as both main characters have a palpable sense of loneliness that they finally find relief from in one another just before they are ripped permanently apart."[3]
In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 150 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[4]
Charts
The song 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 the previous November,[5] eventually peaking at No. 57. It was not officially released as a single until late 2002, when it peaked at No. 1 on the same chart, in early 2003; additionally, the song charted within the Billboard top 40 of the Hot 100 chart, at the No. 25 spot.
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