From the recording THEY STILL CALL ME SOLDIER
THEY STILL CALL ME SOLDIER
**Blue Wave Revival | Written by Rick Gaspa**
*Title Track from the Album: THEY STILL CALL ME SOLDIER*
You know, it's been a lot of years since I last put on an Army uniform. My hair has turned gray, my steps have slowed down a little, and the young soldier who once stood tall in formation is now an older man looking back on a lifetime of memories.
But here's something I've learned. You can take the uniform off the soldier, but you can't always take the soldier out of the man.
**“THEY STILL CALL ME SOLDIER”** is about that part of me that never really left the Army.
I joined at seventeen, served two tours in Vietnam, and spent years of my life serving my country. I've seen some wonderful things and some terrible ones. I've made lifelong friends, lost people I cared about, and carried home memories that don't always stay where they belong.
And like a lot of veterans, I've learned that some battles don't end when the shooting stops.
But this song isn't just about the difficult memories. It's about pride, brotherhood, loyalty, and the bond that connects those of us who have worn the uniform. It's about the young men and women we once were and the older men and women we've become.
Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder where all those years went. I don't see the seventeen-year-old kid from Boston anymore. I see the wrinkles, the gray hair, and a lifetime written across my face.
But somewhere inside, that young soldier is still standing there.
I wrote this song for every veteran who understands that military service isn't simply something you did years ago. It's something that becomes part of who you are.
Whether you served during wartime or peacetime, whether you spent four years or made a career of it, you know what I mean.
**The uniform may be hanging in the closet, but the soldier is still here.**
And after all these years, they still call me soldier. 🇺🇸
🎧 **Put on your headphones or earbuds and listen closely to the words.** This one's straight from the heart.
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Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I walked into the VA, moving slower than before
A little gray around the edges, knees complaining at the door
Took a number, found a chair, watched the morning come alive
A hundred different stories in the eyes of those inside
Then a young nurse smiled and said, "Good morning, soldier, how are you?"
And for a moment I remembered all the things I'd made it through
[Pre-Chorus]
I wasn't just a number, wasn't just another name
And somewhere deep inside me, that old fire burned again
[Chorus]
They still call me soldier, though my marching days are gone
There's a little less spring in my step, but my heart keeps marching on
I've traded boots for walking shoes, and time has left its scars
But I still carry who I was, no matter where we are
Yeah, they still call me soldier
And I stand a little straighter when they do
[Verse 2]
I was seventeen in Boston when I chose to wear that green
Had no idea of all the places these young eyes would see
From the streets where I was raised to the heat of Vietnam
I learned that courage isn't always being fearless or being strong
Now I'm sitting with the others, some are quiet, some tell jokes
And we laugh about our aches and pains like a bunch of worn-out old folks
[Pre-Chorus]
Different wars and different years, but there's something we all know
You can hang up your uniform, but some things never go
[Chorus]
They still call me soldier, though my marching days are gone
There's a little less spring in my step, but my heart keeps marching on
I've traded boots for walking shoes, and time has left its scars
But I still carry who I was, no matter where we are
Yeah, they still call me soldier
And I stand a little straighter when they do
[Bridge]
Some days I need a helping hand, some days I need a friend
Some days the road behind me comes around the bend again
And I thank the ones who listen, who take the time to care
Who see the man behind the chart, and know why he is there
I don't need a medal, don't need a grand parade
Just a little understanding for the journey that I've made
[Instrumental Break]
[Expressive electric guitar solo, melodic and uplifting]
[Final Chorus - Key Change, Strong Sustained High Notes]
They still call me soldier, though my marching days are gone
There's a little less spring in my step, but my heart keeps marching on
And every time I hear those words, something in me shines
That young kid in his Army greens is still somewhere inside
Yeah, they still call me soldier
And I stand a little straighter when they do
[Outro]
I'm older now, but I still know
The pride I felt so long ago
And when somebody calls me soldier
I stand a little straighter
Yes, I stand a little straighter
When they do
[Long melodic electric guitar outro, gentle piano, warm harmonies, complete instrumental resolution]