The Wars, Part Nine

Part One starts it off. ~

Finally, we have the country song. ~ Amusing factoid: FL thinks, and I agree, that country music is too blatant in its lyrics; that is, it explicitly states everything without using much figurative language or subtleties. ~ This isn't a jab at country music, but simply a fact that does not reflect upon my opinion of the genre overall. ~

Nevertheless, these quite obvious lyrics served my purpose well, and hence "I Just Came Back From A War" is included in my playlist. ~

However, they will soon discover that they have difficulty relating to the rest of society. War divides the individual from the collective by subjecting him or her to life-threatening circumstances, under which the individual becomes so emotionally strained that he or she loses the connection with the commonplace reality of daily life.

I Just Came Back from a War, by Darryl Worley:

The first thing I did when that plane finally landed was kiss the ground
The next thing I did was to go find my friends down at the old hangout
Drank some beer and talked a lot about old times
But when the booze finally hit Billy Joe Grimes
He said I don't know what it is, but you seem different to me

I said I just came back from a place where they hated me
and everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
If I'm not exactly the same good old boy that you ran around with before
I just came back from a war

The very next morning I took a walk through the neighborhood
I thought it's been so long since I've been in a place where everything is good
People laughing and children were playing
And as I watched ’em I found myself praying
Lord keep ’em safe here at home in the land of the free

Cuz I just came back from a place where they hated me
And everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
If I'm not same little freckled face boy
That grew up in that house next door
I just came back from a war

I hope you cherish this sweet way of life
And I hope you know that it comes with a price

I just came back from a place where they hated me
And everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
Chances are I never will be the same
I really don't know anymore
I just came back from a war

I just came back from a war

[Background]
You don’t know me (repeated)

I just came back from a war

Literary Content

In “I Just Came Back from a War,” the individual begins to realize to what extent he has been changed by the war. His friends back home notice that he “seem[s] different,” which causes the individual to relate the hate he’s been forced to endure during the war. His pain regarding his fellow soldiers’ deaths is further underscored by the fact that they “are dying for others who don’t even care anymore;” namely, that they no longer fight for a purpose. He also explains his tarnished innocence by juxtaposing his current self with the “little freckled face boy / That grew up in that house next door,” suggesting that he was forced to grow up and grow burdened with suffering during the war and that he no longer has those same urges to be a “killing machine.” However, he can no longer see anything without thinking about the war; the “people laughing and children […] playing” remind him of just how fragile peace is. This shows the extent to which he has been permanently affected; “chances are [he] never will be the same.”

Auditory Elements

The country style of this song contributes to establishing a peaceful and slightly nostalgic mood, as this type of music is reminiscent of the traditional American hometown. The use of the Am chord, combined with the Cadd9 and G chords, adds a slight tinge of sadness to the joy and relief of homecoming.

Also, the individual’s further alienation is hinted at the line, “you don’t know me,” which, as it repeated, fades to silence, suggesting that he is retreating into himself more and more as time goes by. This creates a melancholic and lonely tone.