Songwriting With Soldiers

An amazing organization with some amazing stories. – Scotty

A couple of Saturdays ago I was mindlessly scrolling through TV channels looking for something to kill some time, and I came across this special on PBS called “Songwriting With Soldiers“.  I watched it and it was amazing!

It seems a little weird that I’ve never heard of this organization because it’s been around since 2012.  Basically they take a veteran and team them up with a professional songwriter at a retreat, and they write a song together.  But it’s SO much more.

Watch this for more insight…

The special got into some specific soldiers, and their stories and songs.  A common theme among many of these men and women, was all of the weight of combat and service that they were carrying around, and keeping it locked up inside them.  And how the creative process of songwriting was a perfect way to open up and share their burdens.  And as you can imagine, it provided great instances of healing.

And then when the songs were performed, the soldiers could see how their stories in song affected other soldiers, and helped them as well.  So many hugely cathartic moments for the soldiers, and as you would imagine, an overwhelming experience for the songwriters and the audience too.  It was just amazing.

I couldn’t find where PBS was going to show the special again, but it is available via streaming.  But they also have a YouTube page with lots of videos on it.

Check out Songwriting With Soldiers to learn more, and even donate if you can.