Song of the week...Week One
Even though I have absolutely no talent, music is important to me. I thought I would start doing a "Song of the Week" every Friday. I want to focus on some songs that may be a bit obscure or unknown to people. This first choice may seem a little strange for those who know me, but I think the singer, Martin Nievera explains the origin and meaning of the song in his introduction better than I can. Lyrics and the reason I chose this song follow underneath the embedded Youtube image.
For those unfamiliar with Youtube, turn up your volume and click the arrow in the middle of the picture.
ONE MORE WAR by Martin Nievera and Louie Ocampo
See the soldier staring into space
See the untold story on his face
One more war I ask what for
Can peace be far away
Children throwing caution to the wind
In every fight each battle no one wins
One more war i ask what for
Is there life with one more war
The day will come
When peace will find our way...
Who has seen the soldier's eyes
Who has heard the children's cries
I am one such voice in prayer
In dark of night
And in search of peace
Who will care
See the world and all it's dreams
See each soldier home like me
Never lose hope
Live out each dream
With no more war..
First of all, it just isn't every day that you hear back from the actual singer in less than four hours. Since my CDs are in storage, I made a post on what I thought was a fan forum about the lyrics, only it was the official forum! The fact that in his introduction to the song he acknowledges women can be soldiers as well endeared me even more to this song.
I think my favorite lines from this song are the first two...
See the soldier staring into space
See the untold story on his face
I was in the military. I was in the Army and the Navy (Yes, I did Basic Training...twice, but that is a long story). I added some pictures in the post that immediately proceeds this one.
The only person in my life now who considers me a hero is my friend, Katie. Every Veteran's Day, I get a heartfelt, sincere 'thank you' from her. Nobody else wants to hear about my stories. My own family has no interest or idea what I actually did. I can't talk to them about the nightmares, bad memories or anything. My brothers make disparaging remarks about the military and while it gets me riled up, I think what hurts more is that my mother doesn't defend me. One sentence from them and they would never utter another hateful phrase.
So my story is untold and I probably won't tell all of it here, but I wanted to write a few snippets.
I am proud of my military service and I have ribbons, medals and memories to remind me of the good times. Not many people can say they have spent six months in Antarctica. Hey, most people can't spell Antarctica without spell check, nor do they know it is located "down there" rather than "up there". Example: What were you doing up there? No-no...Santa Claus is up North, penguins are down South.
I have eaten sushi in Japan. I have had a Foster's in Ned Kelly's on the Kowloon side. I have stumbled a mile through sand, extremely drunk, with two buddies (that was a fun night in the Gulf) as we tried to get back to the command before taps. I have danced the funky chicken in the disco hut. I have hung upside down on the highest point of the Confidence Course by my belt buckle without fear when it snagged on the rope. I have single-handedly outfitted 1000 people with PPE in less than two weeks. I have processed 10,000 reqs in 12 months with only two mistakes. Sorry about that $4 million dollar bolt instead of the $4.00 bolt. I have buried close to 100 people with honor and dignity as part of a military honor guard. Who says women can't be pallbearers? I have driven a Hummer-long before they were cool. I know the answer to the phrase, "smoke 'em if you got 'em." I have seen the sun rise on seven continents.
I can see the ship's passageways in my mind and still smell the deck shoes from my storerooms. I could probably still disassemble an M60 machine gun and an M16 rifle. I know the difference between and rifle and a gun. I know what to do after you pull the pin. I know never to say the word "repeat" on the radio. Dog zebra and bravo zulu are terms I use in my everyday life. I know which way a claymore is supposed to face (toward the enemy). I know what it means to 'Charlie Mike' and 'kick this pig.' I have been told I sing some pretty raunchy cadences when I am intoxicated, but maybe people are just making that up for fun. Someday, I would like to take a cruise not sponsored by the US Government. I'm pretty sure the food and activities will be better. I still know my general orders, phonetic alphabet, and a whole lot of acronyms and FSC codes. I know what color the ocean is at 200 AM, 80 miles from land. I know how to manipulate a Prick and to gently insert a donkey dick into the opening. Ground pounders will know there is nothing crude about the previous sentence. I know there is a difference between getting head and going to the head. Okay, that last sentence was crude, all sailors cheer loudly.
I know what a stinger is and hopefully God has one for me when I get to heaven.
I listen to the current presidential candidates in both political parties talk about service members and veterans. I have a feeling none of their plans include me. They promise today's military member resources to help them floursh and thrive when they return home and/or become civilians. They speak of medical care for the elderly veterans. Their focus is on the new generation and the greatest generation. I guess that either makes me the sanwich generation or the forgotten generation.
I chose this song because of its amazing tune and because I felt like the words were describing both me and my experiences. Some may see this as an anti-war anthem, but from the very first time I heard this I knew the focus was on the fact it is "pro-soldier". It reminds me of the connection I have with my Army buddies and my Navy shipmates. These are people I take a bullet for and have no regrets.
Before it was "HOO-AH", it was "OO-RAH"
Giwu
For those unfamiliar with Youtube, turn up your volume and click the arrow in the middle of the picture.
Click to viewONE MORE WAR by Martin Nievera and Louie Ocampo
See the soldier staring into space
See the untold story on his face
One more war I ask what for
Can peace be far away
Children throwing caution to the wind
In every fight each battle no one wins
One more war i ask what for
Is there life with one more war
The day will come
When peace will find our way...
Who has seen the soldier's eyes
Who has heard the children's cries
I am one such voice in prayer
In dark of night
And in search of peace
Who will care
See the world and all it's dreams
See each soldier home like me
Never lose hope
Live out each dream
With no more war..
First of all, it just isn't every day that you hear back from the actual singer in less than four hours. Since my CDs are in storage, I made a post on what I thought was a fan forum about the lyrics, only it was the official forum! The fact that in his introduction to the song he acknowledges women can be soldiers as well endeared me even more to this song.
I think my favorite lines from this song are the first two...
See the soldier staring into space
See the untold story on his face
I was in the military. I was in the Army and the Navy (Yes, I did Basic Training...twice, but that is a long story). I added some pictures in the post that immediately proceeds this one.
The only person in my life now who considers me a hero is my friend, Katie. Every Veteran's Day, I get a heartfelt, sincere 'thank you' from her. Nobody else wants to hear about my stories. My own family has no interest or idea what I actually did. I can't talk to them about the nightmares, bad memories or anything. My brothers make disparaging remarks about the military and while it gets me riled up, I think what hurts more is that my mother doesn't defend me. One sentence from them and they would never utter another hateful phrase.
So my story is untold and I probably won't tell all of it here, but I wanted to write a few snippets.
I am proud of my military service and I have ribbons, medals and memories to remind me of the good times. Not many people can say they have spent six months in Antarctica. Hey, most people can't spell Antarctica without spell check, nor do they know it is located "down there" rather than "up there". Example: What were you doing up there? No-no...Santa Claus is up North, penguins are down South.
I have eaten sushi in Japan. I have had a Foster's in Ned Kelly's on the Kowloon side. I have stumbled a mile through sand, extremely drunk, with two buddies (that was a fun night in the Gulf) as we tried to get back to the command before taps. I have danced the funky chicken in the disco hut. I have hung upside down on the highest point of the Confidence Course by my belt buckle without fear when it snagged on the rope. I have single-handedly outfitted 1000 people with PPE in less than two weeks. I have processed 10,000 reqs in 12 months with only two mistakes. Sorry about that $4 million dollar bolt instead of the $4.00 bolt. I have buried close to 100 people with honor and dignity as part of a military honor guard. Who says women can't be pallbearers? I have driven a Hummer-long before they were cool. I know the answer to the phrase, "smoke 'em if you got 'em." I have seen the sun rise on seven continents.
I can see the ship's passageways in my mind and still smell the deck shoes from my storerooms. I could probably still disassemble an M60 machine gun and an M16 rifle. I know the difference between and rifle and a gun. I know what to do after you pull the pin. I know never to say the word "repeat" on the radio. Dog zebra and bravo zulu are terms I use in my everyday life. I know which way a claymore is supposed to face (toward the enemy). I know what it means to 'Charlie Mike' and 'kick this pig.' I have been told I sing some pretty raunchy cadences when I am intoxicated, but maybe people are just making that up for fun. Someday, I would like to take a cruise not sponsored by the US Government. I'm pretty sure the food and activities will be better. I still know my general orders, phonetic alphabet, and a whole lot of acronyms and FSC codes. I know what color the ocean is at 200 AM, 80 miles from land. I know how to manipulate a Prick and to gently insert a donkey dick into the opening. Ground pounders will know there is nothing crude about the previous sentence. I know there is a difference between getting head and going to the head. Okay, that last sentence was crude, all sailors cheer loudly.
I know what a stinger is and hopefully God has one for me when I get to heaven.
I listen to the current presidential candidates in both political parties talk about service members and veterans. I have a feeling none of their plans include me. They promise today's military member resources to help them floursh and thrive when they return home and/or become civilians. They speak of medical care for the elderly veterans. Their focus is on the new generation and the greatest generation. I guess that either makes me the sanwich generation or the forgotten generation.
I chose this song because of its amazing tune and because I felt like the words were describing both me and my experiences. Some may see this as an anti-war anthem, but from the very first time I heard this I knew the focus was on the fact it is "pro-soldier". It reminds me of the connection I have with my Army buddies and my Navy shipmates. These are people I take a bullet for and have no regrets.
Before it was "HOO-AH", it was "OO-RAH"
Giwu