"Soldier's Lullaby" -- a song for military families.

"Soldier's Lullaby"

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I wrote this song in July of 2009 while on a plane to Michigan, where I was anticipating meeting the wife and daughter of my nephew, Tony Bordano, for the first time. Tony had been deployed to Iraq for a second tour of duty, and I was feeling sad about him being away from his wife, Amber, and their newborn daughter, Alyssa, for the first year of his child's life. I asked myself, "What could a mother say (or sing) to her child to explain -- and perhaps ease -- the separation?"

The lyrics to the original version are from the perspective of a spouse, friend or relative singing to a child of a male soldier:

Although your daddy’s far away,

You’re always on his mind.

He asked me to sing his love for you

In a Soldier’s Lullaby.

Your father serves the country we love,

Puts all he has on the line,

In hopes you’ll grow up in a world at peace—

That’s a Soldier’s Lullaby.

And when your daddy’s day is done,

He closes his weary eyes,

Remembering holding you in his arms—

His Soldier’s Lullaby.

We all miss our soldiers so far away.

May the days and nights speed by

Until they return to the ones at home—

That’s our Soldiers’ Lullaby.

Although your daddy’s far away,

He’s always on our mind.

We sing and connect our hearts with his

In a Soldier’s Lullaby.

We sing and connect our hearts with his
In a Soldier's Lullaby.

I then started thinking about all the women serving in the military who have children at home, and I created a version of the lyrics to be song to a child whose mother is far away (substitute "mommy" for "daddy", etc.).

The next version is from the perspective of the soldier himself [or herself]:

Although your daddy’s [mommy’s] far away,

You’re always on my mind.

I wanted to sing my love for you

In a Soldier’s Lullaby.

I proudly serve the country we love,

Put all I have on the line,

In hopes you’ll grow up in a world at peace—

That’s a Soldier’s Lullaby.

And when my soldier’s day is done,

I close my weary eyes,

Remembering holding you in my arms—

My Soldier’s Lullaby.

We all miss our families so far away.

May the days and nights speed by

Until we return to the ones at home—

That’s our Soldiers’ Lullaby.

Although your daddy’s [mommy’s] far away,

You’re always on my mind.

I sing and connect my heart with yours

In a Soldier’s Lullaby.

I sing and connect my heart with yours

In a Soldier’s Lullaby.

The version I have recorded, with Michael Mish joining me, is a duet version that incorporates the perspectives of both a male soldier and his wife singing to their child. To replay, click on the arrow of the music player at the bottom of the page. At some point, the song will be available for downloading.

The song can be adapted for other branches of the service.

I have also adapted both the melody and the lyrics in a version that expresses the child's perspective, and I am exploring the possibility of having it sung by children's choirs in communities in which there are a number of deployed service members. Please contact me if you have ideas or would like to help with this project.

I dedicate "Soldier's Lullaby" to Tony, Amber, and Alyssa Bordano and to all other military families.

Penelope Salinger