Back around 2011 I was contacted to write a patriotic song to be sung by multiple choirs for a Memorial Day celebration. My father was a marine, my nephews are in the air force and marines, plus I have other friends and family across the various armed service branches. I love America and I respect and cherish those who gave their "last full measure of devotion" in service to a cause greater than themselves. I wrote this song with heartfelt gratitude.
Interesting fact about this song
In the original words I included the line "I will fight to guard your right to burn the flag that calls you free".
I've never before or since changed the words to anything I've written for someone else's comfort. I believe in artistic expression, and this idea bugged me so I needed a way to express the disgust and beauty I see in it.
Disgust
I find myself incensed whenever I see pictures or videos of Americans burning their own flag. It seems simple to me. If you hate the USA, don't live in the USA. What possible good idea can come from burning your flag? If you disagree with the way our country is ran, then vote and encourage others to vote. There are a lot of things I see wrong with our country and our government. We are responsible for changing that. I see no way in which burning the symbol of our national identity is positive change.
Beauty
The idea of a soldier protecting someone burning a flag strikes me as the ultimate human example of grace, integrity and human love. This idea speaks volumes to me of what America could and should be. The thought that a man or woman could leave their home, country and family in service those same things and then - hopefully - return home to defend the right of someone in their own country who hates the very idea of them burning the symbol he or she risked their life for... it shakes me. It says to me: I (the soldier) love your freedom more than I love my right to be angry at you for desecrating the very symbol of the freedom bought by the blood of my brothers and sisters in arms.
It's such a stark and ugly contrast to me, the idea that you can burn your country's flag and be protected by the very military pledged to defend that flag. It chokes me up. I've come to understand though that the men and women who protect our country aren't defending a piece of cloth that can be burned. They are defending the grand idea that is represented by that cloth. "America is essentially a dream" as Dr King said. While I hate the very idea of it, you can go ahead and burn it, because burning the flag in no way detracts from my vision of everything America could and should be.
All that said, I have such an immense respect and regard for those willing to put their lives on the line in defense of a glorious idea that protects the freedom and lives of my family that I sought the counsel of a few veterans I know. The common consensus was: Yes, I understand the words you wrote. No, I do not like them. I do not want Americans burning a flag that I fought for on the other side of the planet.
Out of that respect and regard I have change the line to "I will fight to guard your right to fly the flag that calls you free."
I recognize that there will be those among you reading this who disagree with me and think this is all garbage. And that's okay, this is the United States of America, you're allowed to disagree. You have that right.
Lyrics:
I'm a stranger. I'm a man.
I'm a woman. I'm a friend.
I'm the boy who bagged your groceries at the store.
I'm a moment. I'm a spark.
I'm a girl playing in the park.
I'm the one you rarely think of anymore.
I'm a soldier
Iron to the core I have faced the dogs of war.
And I have paid the final price to keep them from your shore.
Whether here or 'cross the sea, regardless of the cost to me,
I will fight to guard your right to fly the flag that calls you free
'Cause I'm a soldier
Thank God for soldiers
I'm your neighbor. I'm your nurse.
I'm your best friend, I'm your worst.
I'm the one whose breath was taken when you smiled
I'm your father. I'm your son.
I'm your daughter. I'm your mom.
I'm the grandpa you looked up to as a child.
I'm a soldier
Iron to the core I have faced the dogs of war.
And I have paid the final price to keep them from your shore.
Whether here or 'cross the sea, regardless of the cost to me,
I will fight to guard your right to fly the flag that calls you free
'Cause I'm a soldier
Thank God for soldiers
And if my last full measure of devotion
Lies across a wild ocean
All I ask is that you say with pride:
Here's a soldier who believed
I'm my right to liberty
And for that right for me this soldier died.
Iron to the core I have faced the dogs of war.
And I have paid the final price to keep them from your shore.
Whether here or 'cross the sea, regardless of the cost to me,
I will fight to guard your right to fly the flag that calls you free
'Cause I'm a soldier
Thank God for soldiers
If you would like to use the SATB arrangement I wrote for your choir feel free to download it here.
You may absolutely use it for free. [please credit Benjamin J Nichols in any online publications]
If you
If you are financially able, would you consider donating whatever you think would be a fair amount? If not, I still like you.