It’s a soldier man I am,
And I’ve walked the killing ground.

I swear to God, if I ever see the sunrise
And feel its warmth come round,
I’ll hold it in my mind, safe and sound,
And never again return to the battleground.

“I WAS FIFTEEN YEARS YOUNG.”

Too young to know the cost.
But I followed lads who swore they’d never
Watch another young life lost.

On that cold, cold battleground
Where the young stay young for evermore,
And the weight of what you witness
Stays with you at your core.

It’s a soldier man I am,
And I’ve walked the killing ground.

I swear to God, if I ever see the sunrise
And feel its warmth come round,
I’ll hold it in my mind, safe and sound,
And never again return to the battleground.

“AT EIGHTEEN YEARS YOUNG.”

I learned—
How fast a man can break.
How courage cracks like winter ice
When the earth begins to shake.
How the strongest heart can falter
When the shells come screaming through,

And the lad you were at fifteen
Is a stranger now to you.

“NOW AT NINETY‑EIGHT YEARS YOUNG.”

I’ll meet you at the door.
I’ll take your arm and guide you through
The shadows left by war.
I’ll tell you of the hardships
And the names I still recall—

The ones who never made it home,
The ones who gave their all.

It’s a soldier man I am,
And I’ve walked the killing ground.

I swear to God, if I ever see the sunrise
And feel its warmth come round,
I’ll hold it in my mind, safe and sound,
And never again return to the battleground.

God… I never want to see another soul
Go down that cold, cold battleground.

It’s a soldier man I am,
And I’ve walked the killing ground.

“I only ask remember them”

“This day and everyday.

---

The Soldier Man I Am

Original Poem & Lyrics by Paul Baldry (LongJohn)

Introduction

“The Soldier Man I Am” is a deeply personal and emotional song of remembrance, dedicated to the men and women who have served their country, to those who never returned home, and to those who survived but carried the unseen scars of war throughout their lives.

This song tells the story of a soldier’s journey through time, beginning as a boy of just fifteen years young, filled with innocence, courage and an incomplete understanding of the world he was entering.

At eighteen, that boy has become a young man who has witnessed the harsh realities of military service. He has learned how quickly life can change, how courage can be tested beyond imagination, and how the experiences of war can leave memories that never truly fade.

Finally, we meet the soldier at ninety-eight years young. His body may have aged, but his memories remain as vivid as ever. He remembers the faces, the friendships, the hardships and, above all, the names of those who never had the opportunity to grow old.

The poem reflects something I have always believed: the true cost of war is not measured simply by the lives lost on the battlefield, but also by the lives forever changed by what was witnessed and endured.

Having joined the British Army myself at just fifteen years of age and served for twenty-six years, I understand something of that journey from youthful innocence into the responsibilities and realities of military life. The friendships formed, the comradeship shared, and the memories carried remain part of a soldier long after the uniform has been put away.

In transforming my original poem into a musical remembrance tribute, I wanted to preserve every word while allowing the music to carry the depth of its meaning.

A mature, powerful baritone voice tells the soldier’s story, supported by a massed choir and full symphony orchestra. Military brass, solemn marching drums and haunting Scottish bagpipes evoke the dignity and traditions of military remembrance.

And above them all rises the lonely sound of a trumpet — a final musical salute to the fallen, to the young lives lost, and to those whose names must never be forgotten.

This is not a song about the glory of war. It is a song about its human cost, the bonds of comradeship, the passage of time and the enduring responsibility we all share to remember.

It is also a plea for peace, for a world in which no more young men and women must walk the killing ground.

As the music fades into a sombre military march, the soldier leaves us with a simple request. Not for recognition, not for glory, nor for himself, but for those who gave everything and never came home.

“I only ask remember them”

“This day and everyday”

For remembrance should never belong to just one day of the year. It belongs to every generation, every family and every life touched by the sacrifice of others.

We will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

AI Declaration

Original poetry and lyrics written by Paul Baldry (LongJohn). Musical composition, vocals, orchestration and production created with the assistance of AI music technology. All original words, themes and creative direction remain those of the author.

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