When life hands you a flag-draped tragedy instead of a hero's welcome, it hits harder than a country song on a rainy day. Zac Brown Band's poignant ballad captures the heart-wrenching reality of young soldiers who leave home with dreams of glory, only to return in somber dress blues. It's a gut-punch reminder that war doesn't just steal lives; it rips apart families and shatters small-town dreams. Between the lines, you'll find grieving mamas, silent old veterans, and plans cut short by bombs in distant sands. This tune is less about patriotism and more about the raw human cost—a tearful tribute to those who gave all in some God-awful war. So grab your tissues and maybe some sweet tea; this one's gonna hit you right in the feels.
Dress Blues
Lyrics
What can you see from your window?
I can't see anything from mine
Flags on the side of the highway
And scripture on grocery store signs
Maybe eighteen was too early
Maybe thirty or forty is too
Did you get your chance to make peace with the man
Before he sent down his angels for you?
Mamas and grandmamas love you
'Cause that's all they know how to do
You never planned on the bombs in the sand
Or sleeping in your dress blues
Your wife said this all would be funny
When you came back home in a week
You'd turn twenty-two and we'd celebrate you
In a bar or a tent by the creek
Your baby would just about be here
Your very last tour would be up
But you won't be back. They're all dressing in black
Drinking sweet tea in styrofoam cups
Mamas and grandmamas love you
American boys hate to lose
You never planned on the bombs in the sand
Or sleeping in your dress blues
Now the high school gymnasium's ready
Full of flowers and old legionnaires
Nobody showed up to protest
They just sniffle and stare
But there's red, white, and blue in the rafters
And there's silent old men from the corps
What did they say when they shipped you away
To give all in some God awful war?
Nobody here could forget you
You showed us what we had to lose
You never planned on the bombs in the sand
Or sleeping in your dress blues
No, no you never planned on the bombs in the sand
Or sleeping in your dress blues
You never planned on the bombs in the sand
Or sleeping in your dress blues
Writer(s): Jason Isbell
Copyright(s): Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
What is the Meaning of Dress Blues
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