Deployment Songs

Last Updated on August 15, 2023

If you’re like me, you have songs you listen to during each deployment.

There are the “drive into a pine tree” songs (and please don’t actually do that!) and then there are the ones that cheer you up when you’re having a down day.

When I dropped my husband off for one deployment, I listened to a playlist a friend made for me. It was set to shuffle so it picked a random song to play. The next thing I know “You Had A Bad Day” was playing.

Well, it was just what I needed and I found myself laughing through my tears. I mean how funny for that to be the song that came on as I drove home from dropping him off.

I let her know that oddly enough the song really cheered me up.

On yet another deployment, it seemed like everything that could go wrong did. I had to move out of our apartment while he was gone since they decided to convert to condos the day AFTER he left and there were loads of other issues.

My song for that deployment? “If You’re Going Through Hell” by Rodney Atkins. I loved that song (and still do). When it was overwhelming, I would blast it as loud as possible and sing it at the top of my lungs. I always felt better.

My neighbors probably didn’t appreciate my off-key voice or loud song repeatedly, but they never uttered a peep about it.

But perhaps my favorite is the song that was playing when I picked my husband up from his first deployment. His plane arrived early and I received the call when he was already on the ground.

I was only half ready but at that point, who cares, right?! I was about to see my soldier. I had another soldier’s girlfriend with me who was also returning and we hauled butt to post to pick them up.

The song “Yeah” by Usher came on when we got in the car. We sang all the way to post with huge smiles plastered on our faces.

To this day, when I hear that song, I smile. It reminds me of the excitement and anxiousness I felt in seeing my husband again for the first time in months.

How about you? Do you have deployment songs? Please share!

Other songs that have been shared with me:

• I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
• Need You Now – Lady A
• Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
• See You Again – Carrie Underwood
• Courtesy of The Red, White, & Blue – Toby Keith
• Here Without You – 3 Doors Down
• I’m Already There – Lonestar
• Carrying Your Love With Me – George Strait
• Colder Weather – Zac Brown Band
• God Gave Me You – Blake Shelton
• Speechless – Dan & Shay

The songs to avoid at all costs unless you really want to cry:

• Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
• If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw
• Drink A Beer – Luke Bryan
• The One Who Didn’t Make It Back Home – Justice Moore
• Riding with Private Malone – David Ball