Nancy: I came across @greengrassgirl's beautiful lyrics, and immediately thought about the way my cousin talks about what it's like when her husband deploys. There's a mix of grace and grief and humor that I admire, and I've always wanted to capture in a song. I put together a Band-in-a-Box track and made a recording though never did succeed it getting all the way through without choking up.
I feel like with the right performer, it could really touch a lot of people. To me it feels like an iconic American song.
I know it's the last day of FAWM, but if anyone is interested it performing it, let @greengrassgirl or me know. Our emails are on our profiles.
Thanks for listening.
My American Hero (Dream Him Home)
V1
My love’s an American hero
He’s trained to be the best
Knows how to handle trouble
Never quite at rest
V2
Comes home every weekend
Until he's gone for months
We don't talk about where he’s going
The danger he confronts
Chorus:
I love my American hero
I cheer for the red, white and blue
I try to be brave, I tell the kids
Daddy needs us to soldier through
I stand with my American hero
Even when we're fighting alone
His job’s serving the country
And mine, oh, mine my job is to dream him home
V3
I mean to be a hero
When he leaves and the bad dreams start
My private battle raging
My head at war with my heart
Chorus:
'cause I love my American hero
I cheer for the red, white and blue
I try to be brave while I tell the kids
Daddy needs us to soldier through
I stand with my American hero
Even when I'm fighting alone
His job’s serving his country
And mine, oh, mine, my job is to dream him home
Bridge
Lord, save him from my nightmares
The flash of a tossed grenade
Keep my soldier in one piece
Help me dream him up a Peace parade
Chorus:
I love my American hero
I cheer for the red, white and blue
I try to be brave like I tell the kids
Daddy needs us to soldier through
I stand with my American hero
Especially while he's fighting alone
His job’s serving our country
And mine, oh, mine, my job is to dream him home
Out:
I'm not always a hero
I can’t even breathe when he’s gone
I need to hold my hero
And tell him he’s safe at home
I need to hold my hero
Please God, let me dream him home
@oswlek Mar 2022
"Daddy needs us to soldier through" and "my job is to dream him home" are epic lines, Patty. Well done.
Lovely performance, Nancy. I wish this song could be transported back to the folk hey day of the 60s so we could give it the market it deserves. :)
@andrea Mar 2022
Maybe it's the state of the world today, but this was very emotional to listen to. The brave soldiers and the families back home (or on the run). Beautiful lyrics and wonderful performance. Love this song! Great collab :)
@katestantonsings Mar 2022
"My private battle raging
My head at war with my heart" I love Patty's empathetic lyrics of what it must be like to love someone in the military. They are battling a war of another kind. You did a beautiful job with the music, Nancy! Your vocals are soft and lovely. The guitar and production is heartfelt!
@jonmeta Mar 2022
Very touching, with real raw emotion. The image of “soldiering through” at home is a powerful one. I can see why this one would be hard to sing without too much emotion creeping in. And honestly, with all the women deployed nowadays, this would work equally well with “Mommy needs us to soldier through”.
@angelinapowersuit Mar 2022
“My job is to dream him home” - such a great line! The lyrics cover so many different emotions, seems to cover all the bases while ultimately expressing love and support for her man. Very nice!
@kahlo2013 Mar 2022
Love the heartfelt loving sentiment and the Americana country feel. Love the “my job is to dream him home” - so real for so many families. I love that honesty in that last stanza/outro. Lovely collaboration.
@greengrassgirl Mar 2022
Thank you, @odilongreen, for your comments on My American Hero. Nancy really threw herself into this one and that comes across in her delivery. I'm glad you liked it.
@odilongreen Mar 2022
Very touching lyrics, proud and patriotic without being jingoistic, just a very personal story of individual sacrifice and love for a greater cause. And the vocal performance is full of emotion and hope and genuine warmth. I agree with the liner notes; I can see this as a big hit, playing on the radio on July 4 as the family gathers and the kids happily run around in the sunshine.
@nadine Mar 2022
This is a nice ode to patriotism. I see the sparkle in your eyes when you sing it. Sounds good for a band in a box backing track. i think this is just the right rhythm for this kind of lyrics. Not cheesy, a bit cheerful, country-like.
@themelgoexperience Mar 2022
Nancy, you made a wonderful recording here with @greengrassgirl s powerful song. The line “my job is to dream him home” really cuts to the heart. This definitely feels like an iconic American song you’re right. Really nice work both of you!
@mariekevinkmusic Feb 2022
I like this a lot. It will touch many people I'm sure. The dream him home line is great. but I also like the war/soldier references sprinkled through in different contexts. Can't believe this is a BIAB backing track??
@unknownbecky Feb 2022
A lovely take on a really difficult subject matter. I really like the phrase "to dream him home"!