Share the Travelin' Soldier Chords and Strumming:
Did You Know? Travelin Soldier was originally written by American Country Music Artist Bruce Robison. It features a Vietnam soldier writing to a high school student.
It's been covered multiple times, most famously by The Dixie Chicks
Country Universe rated the song no 17 of the 201 greatest singles of the decade.
More...
Difficulty Level Of Original Recorded Song: Orange Pick
Most Advanced Rhythm: Yellow Pick
Most Advanced Chord Change: Yellow Pick (White Pick when played with Django chords only)
Click to scroll to the version for your level:
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White Pick Level
Traveling' Soldier Chords And Strumming, The Whistlin' Donkeys
Django Chords:
Django G chord
Django D chord
Django A chord
Django C chord
Django Bm chord
Strumming:
"Driver": |D D D U D U |
Tempo: 164 bpm Key: D
Intro -
| |D - - - |D - - - | | x 3
Verse 1 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - D - |
| |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - | | x 2
(Dx4) Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat (Gx2)down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his (D)order to a girl with a (A½)bow in her (D½)hair
(Dx4)He's a little shy so she give him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And (Gx2)talking to me, I'm feeling a little (Dx2)low
She said I'm (C)off in an hour and (G)I know where we can (Dx2)go
So they (Dx4)went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got (Gx2)no one to send a letter (Dx2)to
Would you (C)mind if I sent (G)one back here to (Dx2)you
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm - - - |Bm - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bmx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 2 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
So the (Dx4)letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he (Gx2)told her of his heart
It might be love and (D)all of the things he was (A)so scared of
He (Dx4)said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I (Gx2)close my eyes and see your pretty (Dx2)smile
Don't (C)worry but I won't be (G)able to write for a (Dx2)while
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm - - - |Bm - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bmx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 3 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
One (Dx4)Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A (Gx2)man said folks would you bow your head
For the (Dx4.5)list of local Vietnam dead
(Dx4)Crying all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And(Gx2) one name read and nobody really (Dx2)cared
But a (C)pretty little girl (G) with a bow in her (Dx2)hair
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
| |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - | | x 3
|D - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D A D |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bmx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming
(Bmx2) I cried, (Gx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming (D)home (G) (D) (A) (D)
Final Chord Strum: D
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Yellow Pick Level
Traveling' Soldier Chords And Strumming, The Whistlin' Donkeys
Open Chords:
Open G chord
Open D chord
Open A chord
Django C chord (dC)
Open Bm7 chord
Strumming:
"Driver": |D D D U D U |
Tempo: 164 bpm Key: D
Intro -
| |D - - - |D - - - | | x 3
Verse 1 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - D - |
| |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|dC - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - | | x 2
(Dx4) Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat (Gx2)down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his (D)order to a girl with a (A½)bow in her (D½)hair
(Dx4)He's a little shy so she give him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And (Gx2)talking to me, I'm feeling a little (Dx2)low
She said I'm (dC)off in an hour and (G)I know where we can (Dx2)go
So they (Dx4)went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got (Gx2)no one to send a letter (Dx2)to
Would you (dC)mind if I sent (G)one back here to (Dx2)you
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bm7x2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 2 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|dC - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
So the (Dx4)letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he (Gx2)told her of his heart
It might be love and (D)all of the things he was (A)so scared of
He (Dx4)said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I (Gx2)close my eyes and see your pretty (Dx2)smile
Don't (dC)worry but I won't be (G)able to write for a (Dx2)while
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bm7x2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 3 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|dC - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
One (Dx4)Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A (Gx2)man said folks would you bow your head
For the (Dx4.5)list of local Vietnam dead
(Dx4)Crying all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And(Gx2) one name read and nobody really (Dx2)cared
But a (dC)pretty little girl (G) with a bow in her (Dx2)hair
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
| |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - | | x 3
|D - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D A D |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bm7x2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming
(Bm7x2) I cried, (Gx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming (D)home (G) (D) (A) (D)
Final Chord Strum: D
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Orange Pick Level
Travelin' Soldier Chords And Strumming, The Whistlin' Donkeys
Open Chords:
Open G chord
Open D chord
Open A chord
Open C chord
Open Bm7 chord
Strumming:
"Driver": |D D D U D U |
Tempo: 164 bpm Key: D
Intro -
| |D - - - |D - - - | | x 3
Verse 1 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - D - |
| |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - | | x 2
(Dx4) Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat (Gx2)down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his (D)order to a girl with a (A½)bow in her (D½)hair
(Dx4)He's a little shy so she give him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And (Gx2)talking to me, I'm feeling a little (Dx2)low
She said I'm (C)off in an hour and (G)I know where we can (Dx2)go
So they (Dx4)went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got (Gx2)no one to send a letter (Dx2)to
Would you (C)mind if I sent (G)one back here to (Dx2)you
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bm7x2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 2 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
So the (Dx4)letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he (Gx2)told her of his heart
It might be love and (D)all of the things he was (A)so scared of
He (Dx4)said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I (Gx2)close my eyes and see your pretty (Dx2)smile
Don't (C)worry but I won't be (G)able to write for a (Dx2)while
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bm7x2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 3 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
One (Dx4)Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A (Gx2)man said folks would you bow your head
For the (Dx4.5)list of local Vietnam dead
(Dx4)Crying all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And(Gx2) one name read and nobody really (Dx2)cared
But a (C)pretty little girl (G) with a bow in her (Dx2)hair
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
| |Bm7 - - - |Bm7 - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - | | x 3
|D - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D A D |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bm7x2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming
(Bm7x2) I cried, (Gx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bm7x2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming (D)home (G) (D) (A) (D)
Final Chord Strum: D
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Blue Pick Level
Travelin' Soldier Chords And Strumming,
The Whistlin' Donkeys
Open Chords:
Open G chord
Open D chord
Open A chord
Open C chord
Barre Chords:
Barre Bm chord
Strumming:
"Driver": |D D D U D U |
"Driver*": | D D U D U |
Tempo: 164 bpm Key: D
Intro -
| |D - - - |D - - - | | x 3
Verse 1 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - D - |
| |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - | | x 2
(Dx4) Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat (Gx2)down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his (D)order to a girl with a (A½)bow in her (D½)hair
(Dx4)He's a little shy so she give him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And (Gx2)talking to me, I'm feeling a little (Dx2)low
She said I'm (C)off in an hour and (G)I know where we can (Dx2)go
So they (Dx4)went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got (Gx2)no one to send a letter (Dx2)to
Would you (C)mind if I sent (G)one back here to (Dx2)you
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm - - - |Bm - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bmx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 2 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
So the (Dx4)letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he (Gx2)told her of his heart
It might be love and (D)all of the things he was (A)so scared of
He (Dx4)said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I (Gx2)close my eyes and see your pretty (Dx2)smile
Don't (C)worry but I won't be (G)able to write for a (Dx2)while
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|Bm - - - |Bm - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bmx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says
A soldier's coming (Dx4)home
Verse 3 -
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - |
|D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
|C - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D - - - |
One (Dx4)Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A (Gx2)man said folks would you bow your head
For the (Dx4.5)list of local Vietnam dead
(Dx4)Crying all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And(Gx2) one name read and nobody really (Dx2)cared
But a (C)pretty little girl (G) with a bow in her (Dx2)hair
Chorus -
|G - - - |G - - - |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - |
| |Bm - - - |Bm - - - |G - - - |G - - - |
|D - - - |D - - - |A - - - |A - - - | | x 3
|D - - - |G - - - |D - - - |D A D |
(Gx2) I cried, (Bmx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming
(Bmx2) I cried, (Gx2)never gonna hold the hand of another guy
(Dx2) Too young for him they told her (Ax2)waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
(Bmx2) Our love will never end (Gx2)waitin' for the soldier to come back again
(Dx2) Never more to be alone when the (Ax2)letter says a soldier's coming (D)home (G) (D) (A) (D)
Final Chord Strum: D
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Click below to join my Free Facebook community group, where you'll get access to my free beginner guitar classes and have your questions answered by me and our excellent members...
Traveling' Soldier Videos
Travelin' Soldier Lyrics
Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she give him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talking to me, I'm feeling a little low
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go
So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you
I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter says
A soldier's coming home
So the letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while
I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter says
A soldier's coming home
One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your head
For the list of local Vietnam dead
Crying all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read and nobody really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair
I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter says
A soldier's coming home
I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter says
A soldier's coming home.
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