‘Travelin’ Soldier’ by Cody Johnson - Lyrics & Meaning

‘Travelin’ Soldier’ began as a quiet story spun by beloved Texas songwriter Bruce Robison, first recorded in 1996 and reshaped three years later with the kind of tender craftsmanship only time can teach. Robison included it on his 1999 album, Long Way Home from Anywhere, where his storytelling prowess was on full display and ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ stood out as one of its finest moments.

The song drifted from one voice to another, carried like a letter passed down the long highways of country music, from Ty England’s Highways & Dance Halls to the Chicks’ haunting rendition on Home in 2002. Praised by critics and fans alike, ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ climbed to the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, its success powered not by spectacle but by sincerity - the kind that lingers long after the final verse fades.

Nearly two decades later, fellow Texan Cody Johnson revived interest in the song with a stirring acoustic performance on YouTube that went viral in March 2022. Since that moment, fans have launched a three-year campaign urging Johnson to release an official cover.

Where the Chicks’ version aligned more closely with Robison’s stripped-down, bluegrass-laced production, Johnson takes the opportunity to expand his acoustic performance with modern touches that reflect his signature sound and readiness for radio.

Similar to hits like ‘Til You Can’t,’ Johnson quickens the tempo and brings a more prominent drum to the chorus, giving the song a country-rock edge that complements both his vocal delivery and the refreshed tone of the arrangement. He honors the striking tragedy of the story through the unique inflections of his voice, channeling tenderness and emotion while still uncovering hope within the pain.

“Two days past eighteen
He was waitin' on a bus in his army greens
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she give him a smile
And he said, "Would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talkin' to me? I'm feelin' pretty low"
She said "I'm off in an hour and I know a place we can go"”

“So they went down and sat on the pier
He said "I bet you got a boyfriend, but I don't care
Cause I got no one, to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?"”

The song’s opening strikes an evocative balance between nostalgic familiarity and a quiet sense of urgency. A shy young recruit prepares to leave home for training and orders what will be his final meal in his hometown. Catching the eye of a young waitress, he sparks a brief conversation, and she offers to spend time with him to wish him well. With no family of his own to write to, the young man asks if he may send her letters, and she immediately agrees.

“I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
"Too young for him," they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Nevermore to be alone
When the letter says, "A soldier's comin' home"”

The chorus swells with visceral emotion as the young woman wrestles with the yearnings of her heart, and the opinions of others who question her love for the soldier. Despite the distance, she remains steadfast, holding on to hope and waiting for the day he will return.

“So the letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart, it might be love
And all of the things he was so scared of
He said, "When it's gettin' kinda rough over here
I sit and think about that day on the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while"”

The young woman finally receives a letter from the soldier. He shares tender details of his journey and writes that, despite the distance, he often thinks back to their afternoon together. He hints that the war he has been training for has begun and admits that the days are growing harder.

“One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
And a man said, "Folks, would you bow your heads
For a list of local Vietnam dead?"”

“Well, cryin' all alone underneath the stands
Was a piccolo player in the marchin' band
And one name read, and nobody really cared
Except that pretty little girl with a bow in her hair”

The song’s conclusion finds the young woman continuing with her life, active in her high school band and surrounded by the rhythm of ordinary days. During a performance at a local football game, the announcer begins to read the names of hometown heroes who have given their lives in the war. When the young man’s name is called, the music stops in her heart, and she mourns the loss of her first love.

Shortly before CoJo finally gave ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ a full streaming release, the Texas native fondly reflected, “It’s been three years since we released an acoustic cover of “Travelin’ Soldier.” The fans responded so enthusiastically and began requesting it during our live shows, so it’s remained on the set list. I had no idea that it was going to give me the opportunity to hear, see, and bring words to y’all’s stories. I knew at some point, when the time felt right, we needed to record it in the studio. And that time is now, COJO Nation! “Travelin’ Soldier” is yours...”

“Two days past eighteen
He was waitin' on a bus in his army greens
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she give him a smile
And he said, "Would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talkin' to me? I'm feelin' pretty low"
She said "I'm off in an hour and I know a place we can go"

-

So they went down and sat on the pier
He said "I bet you got a boyfriend, but I don't care
Cause I got no one, to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?"

-

I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
"Too young for him," they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Nevermore to be alone
When the letter says, "A soldier's comin' home"

-

So the letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart, it might be love
And all of the things he was so scared of
He said, "When it's gettin' kinda rough over here
I sit and think about that day on the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while"

-

I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
"Too young for him," they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Nevermore to be alone
When the letter says, "A soldier's comin' home"

-

One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
And a man said, "Folks, would you bow your heads
For a list of local Vietnam dead?"

-

Well, cryin' all alone underneath the stands
Was a piccolo player in the marchin' band
And one name read, and nobody really cared
Except that pretty little girl with a bow in her hair

-

And I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
"Too young for him," they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Nevermore to be alone
When the letter says, "A soldier's comin' home"
When the letter says, "A soldier's comin' home"”

For more on Cody Johnson, see below:

Cody Johnson

Artist