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Travelin' Soldier (WORD)
Travelin' Soldier (PDF)
YOU CAN PLAY ALONG WITH THE CHICKS IN GCEA TUNING, IF YOU PUT YOUR CAPO ON THE 2ND FRET! I've based the songsheet/lyrics on the first video. Thanks to Heather B for submitting this song.
The first rendition of "Travelin' Soldier" to be issued as a single was by The Chicks in December 2002, from their album Home. It became the group's sixth and final single to reach No. 1 on Billboard "Hot Country Singles & Tracks" (now "Hot Country Songs"). A version of the song featuring Natalie Maines, Bruce Robison and Robison's wife, Kelly Willis, appears on KGSR's Broadcasts Vol. 13 album.
The song was being promoted by The Chicks when on March 10, 2003, lead singer Natalie Maines told a London, England, audience the band was ashamed that then United States President George W. Bush was from Texas for his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Subsequent U.S. publication of Maines's comments caused some stations, including 42 owned by Cumulus Media, to drop the song from their playlists, causing it to fall from No. 1 on the country singles chart to No. 3 the following week, March 29, before disappearing from the charts entirely.
"Travelin' Soldier" is the last single released by The Chicks to reach the top 20 on the U.S. country singles chart, although their 2007 single "Not Ready to Make Nice", peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 while reaching No. 36 on the country chart.
Sheryl Crow released a cover in 2003, shortly after The Chicks' version fell from No. 1. Home Free (group) released a cover in 2021 with the gender roles reversed, on their album Land of the Free.