Travelin' Soldier

The song is a tale about a shy, lonesome, young American soldier who strikes up a conversation and later a correspondence with a high school 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 Vietnam dead are announced. The soldier's name is on the list, but only the girl, who is there, recognizes his name, and 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."

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."[2]

The song and album (Home) were being promoted by The Chicks in London, England, where they were performing a sell-out concert at Shepherds Bush Empire, on 10 March 2003; this was the “eve” of the Iraq War and, with many across the globe questioning this move by the United States, The Chicks’ lead singer Natalie Maines felt compelled to mention to their audience that night that “they” (The Chicks) were “ashamed” to be “from the same state” (Texas) as then-President George W. Bush. Maines more or less asked for forgiveness from the international community for any possible negative perceptions they may have of the U.S., due to the ensuing war, and ultimately “apologized” on the President’s behalf for his role in the invasion.

Backlash wasn’t felt immediately; by the next morning, when word about the comments had reached North American media, numerous country music FM and satellite radio stations—including 42 owned by Cumulus Media—received tense phone calls from alleged “former” Chicks fans berating the group (especially Natalie Maines), asking for an official ban of their music on American airwaves. This reaction from listeners caused many stations to promptly drop “Travelin’ Soldier” from their playlists, and it would fall from the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country Singles chart to No. 3 the following week (March 29, 2003), before falling from the charts entirely.[3]

"Travelin' Soldier" was the last single released by Dixie Chicks to reach the top 20 on the U.S. Billboard Country Singles chart, although their 2007 single "Not Ready to Make Nice", peaked at No. 4 on the mainstream Billboard Hot 100 (while only reaching No. 36 on the country chart).

The song debuted at No. 58 on Hot Country Songs on February 16, 2002, based on a live recording from the Country Music Association telecast in the previous November,[4] 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, at the No. 25 spot.

Sheryl Crow released a cover in 2003, shortly after the Dixie Chicks' version fell from No. 1.[3]

Home Free released a cover in 2021 with the gender roles reversed, on their album Land of the Free.

• List of anti-war songs