Army Veteran’s ‘Soldier for Life’ Song Honors Veterans

It goes without saying: “once a soldier, always a soldier.” Those who serve in the nation’s military, currently or as veterans, often refer to themselves as “soldiers for life.”

That’s the theme and title of a new original song, “Soldier for Life”, written by U.S. Army veteran Carlton Blake Watson of Reidsville, North Carolina.

He put his lyrics, or poetry as he calls it, into an AI platform that generated a fully mastered song of patriotism. In an interview with Military.com, Watson said his creation is to honor military service members and veterans across all branches and generations.

Song Tells Story of Service, Survival

“I just want veterans like me to feel appreciated, not only on Veterans Day, but year round,” Watson said. “I would say the song is for the world, because no matter where in the world a veteran is, they will relate to the lyrics, and relate to the theme of the song.”

“Soldier for Life” is set to an upbeat country twang of rap-like lyrics mixed with the beat of a guitar and some hip-hop influence. The music takes the listener through a chorus of catchy vocals meant to tell a story of service, sacrifice, danger and survival on the front lines.

The first words of the AI-assisted song are inclusive and an expression of pride: “All my soldiers, all branches, active reserve veterans, stand up. Let them salute us first cuz we were first to serve.”

Watson said despite his use of AI, the message is 100% authentic.

“Well, I’ve always been writing poetry since high school. I write all of my lyrics. I have just turned my poetry into music,” Watson said. “I own the songs and everything.

Of course, I paid for the AI service, but AI doesn’t write my lyrics; I do. I can’t sing, and I’m not a musician, so AI helped a lot.”

Another line in the song offers a snapshot of what the life of a soldier is like: “Early mornings, long nights, cold still. Heavy packs, no sleep. Still kept it real. We sing that line knowing what it meant. Life on pause, future heaven sent. Missed birthdays, missed first steps. Still showed up when the country called next.”

Watson said his lyrics are meant to bring the pain and purpose of a soldier’s life into focus.

“If you listen to it, it goes into the wars we are fighting, even the paper wars, when we come back trying to get our disability benefits straightened out,” he said. “‘Soldier for Life’ comes from a place of truth and a place of experience.”

Dealing With Disability Through Music

Part of that experience is personal for Watson. He’s a disabled veteran himself, injured in a fall while serving at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in 1988. He also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder related to his accident.

“I get emotional talking about it. I was only 19. I slipped and fell off a building, and fell down to the concrete below and messed up my back,” he recalled. “The PTSD from that is still with me. I deal with it by writing my music.”

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. is home to approximately 17 million veterans, representing about 6% of the adult population.

The VA also reports nearly 5 million U.S. veterans live with a service-connected disability. Watson said he created “Soldier for Life” to be relatable to anyone who has served, no matter their condition or their preferred genre of music.

“I tried to do some hip hop, with a mix of some rock, a little country, a little rap. It’s sort of everything,” he said. “And veterans are the same. We are everybody, from all walks of life. This song is for all veterans, not just one particular race or group or persuasion. We’re all united together.”

For now, Watson’s poetry-turned-songwriting lives on YouTube and TikTok, but he hopes to one day distribute it professionally under his label, “824 Black Mamba Music.” He said his goal is not fame or fortune, but recognition and appreciation for all those who have served.

“People get confused figuring out the difference between Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and even Independence Day,” he said. “Veterans Day is for the ones who have served and are still here. A lot of us have some kind of disability that we suffered while serving. I would just like for us to be appreciated and not just around Veterans Day, but every day.”