Lately, delving into the craft of playwriting and screenwriting, I’ve been immersed in movie scripts. This exploration sparked a thought: If deployment were the subject of a musical, what songs would capture its essence?
Not a musical about the battlefield, mind you. War has been extensively depicted in movies, books, TV shows, and plays. My focus is on a musical portraying deployment from the perspective of the families awaiting their loved ones’ return at home.
However, I quickly realized that depicting deployment solely from the home front might result in a somber and monotonous musical. It would predominantly showcase struggle and sorrow, with a glimmer of happiness only in the final act’s concluding scene.
The most joyful moments would likely peak at the level of a lively Bunco game night or a community fall festival, complete with a bounce house filled with energetic children.
Few would willingly endure a couple of hours of “I’m lonely, exhausted, and this is awful,” even with musical accompaniment and dance numbers. Even the characters in “Les Misérables” experience a range of emotions beyond sheer misery throughout their story.
So, perhaps not a musical. But what about a soundtrack? A curated playlist? A mixtape, if you will?
(Sigh. Mixtape. I’m dating myself here.)
Numerous songs resonate perfectly with the different phases of a military deployment. Here are some selections for a deployment soundtrack:
1. The Night Before Deployment… “And when the daylight comes I’ll have to go, but tonight I’m gonna hold you so close.” — Maroon Five, “Daylight”
2. Deployment Day… “There goes my hero, watch him as he goes.” — Foo Fighters, “There Goes My Hero”
3. The First Week… “And I guess that’s why they call it the blues. Time on my hands could be time spent with you.” — Elton John, “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues”
4. Weeks Two Through Six… “This is my fight song. Take-back-my-life song. Prove-I’m-alright song My power’s turned on. Starting right now, I’ll be strong.” — Rachel Platten, “This is My Fight Song”
5. Third Month “Please Mr. Postman, look and see, is there a letter, a letter for me?” — The Marvelettes, “Please Mr. Postman”
But also this one… (Just kidding about the drinking songs!) “I get knocked down. But I get up again. You’re never going to keep me down.” — Chumbawumba, “Tubthumping”
And maybe also this one… reflecting the busy home front, “But here in Topeka the rain is a fallin’, the faucet is a drippin’ and the kids are a bawlin’. One of ’em a toddlin’ and one is a crawlin’, And one’s on the way.” — Loretta Lynn, “One’s On The Way”
6. Months Four Through The End “Been gophering, chauffeuring, company chairman. Coffee maker, copy repairman. Anymore there ain’t nothing I swear man that I don’t do.” — Kenny Chesney, “Woman With You”
And these two songs… expressing the longing and distance, “Been far away for far too long.” — Nickelback, “Far Away”
“I put away the groceries. And I take my daily bread. I dream of your arms around me. As I tuck the kids in bed.” — SheDaisy, “Come Home Soon”
And maybe also this one… capturing the ongoing chaos at home, “But here in Topeka, the screen door’s a bangin’. The coffee’s boilin’ over and the wash needs a hangin’. One wants a cookie and one wants a changin’. And one’s on the way.” — Loretta Lynn, “One’s On The Way”
7. The Last Week “So tired, tired of waiting, tired of waiting for you.” — The Kinks, “Tired of Waiting”
And this one… the anticipation of return, “I know it’s wrong to be so far from home. I know it’s wrong to leave you so alone. I’ve just got to getcha this good job done.” — Ray LaMontagne, “Three More Days”
But possibly also this one… with a touch of humor about the never-ending demands, “Here in Topeka, the flies are a buzzin’. The dog is a barkin’ and the floor needs a scrubbin’. One needs a spankin’ and one needs a huggin’. Lord, one’s on the way. Oh gee, I hope it ain’t twins, again!” — Loretta Lynn, “One’s On The Way”
8. Homecoming Day “I wanna rock some sheet rock. Knock some pictures off the wall. Love you baby like a wrecking ball.” — Eric Church, “Like a Wrecking Ball”
**Bonus Track – Two Weeks Later The humorous reality of readjustment, “Now what was I doin’? Jimmy get away from there! Darn, there goes the phone. Hello honey, what’s that you say? You’re bringin’ a few old Army buddies home? You’re callin’ from a bar? Get away from there! No, not you honey. I was talkin’ to the baby. Wait a minute, honey, the doorbell. Honey, could you stop at the market and … Hello? Hello? Well, I’ll be …” — Loretta Lynn, “One’s On The Way”
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