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Voice of a Jukebox

from Free Spirited Like Me by Mandy Woods

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about

My friend Paul Saunders told me one day that he'd long had an idea for a song that would be from the voice of a jukebox that's been in a diner for many decades and has seen one family through several wars. Not being a songwriter himself, he invited me to write such a song if I felt so inclined - which I did - but it's important to acknowledge that the song wouldn't exist had it not been for Paul's original idea.

The song references four songs that were current during the four wars mentioned: 'Goodnight Soldier' by Patsy Montana (WWII); 'Dear Uncle Sam' by Loretta Lynn (Vietnam); 'From a Distance' by Nanci Griffith (the Gulf War); and 'Travelin' Soldier' by the Chicks (the war in Iraq).

lyrics

Voice of a Jukebox

‘Goodnight Soldier’ Mo played
When they sent Jim away
To the beaches of Normandy,
Three plays a quarter,
She played it twice more,
For it held bitter-sweet memories.

As ‘Dear Uncle Sam’
Mourned Vietnam,
And the price one young soldier had paid,
Mo wept for her son
While Loretta sang on,
Reflecting her desperate pain.

I’ve stood at the back of Joe’s Diner,
No one can say for how long,
In peacetime and wartime,
A jukebox for all time,
Generations grew old to my songs.

Like the men had before her,
Mo’s precious granddaughter
Went off to an overseas war,
As she played ‘From a Distance’,
Mo quietly whispered,
‘Oh, please let me see Kate once more.’

I’ve stood at the back of Joe’s Diner,
No one can say for how long,
In peacetime and wartime,
A jukebox for all time,
Generations grew old to my songs.

I’ve records to suit every mood,
Tunes that’ll light up the room,
But the songs I recall
Most clearly of all
Are the ones that helped Mo make it through.

From the Gulf Kate came back,
To be sent to Iraq
As the twenty-first century dawned,
But ‘Travelin’ Soldier’
Played over and over,
Once Mo knew this time Kate was gone.

I’ve stood at the back of Joe’s Diner,
No one can say for how long,
In peacetime and wartime,
A jukebox for all time,
Generations grew old to my songs,
In peacetime and wartime,
A jukebox for all time,
Some never grew old to my songs,
Mm-mm.

credits

from Free Spirited Like Me, released August 30, 2023
Written by Mandy Woods & Paul K Saunders. Performed by Mandy Woods. Dobro by Martin Froud.

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Mandy Woods Glastonbury, UK

The transatlantic flavour of Mandy Woods’ songs reflects a decade spent in Austin, Texas. Now based in Somerset, she plays guitar and country blues harmonica and performs at venues around the UK. Mandy also writes songs about dachshunds, as WagsLyrical. ... more

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