About the song
Toby Keith’s Call a Marine. Now that’s a song that resonates with a certain kind of American spirit. Keith, a country music mainstay known for his anthemic patriotism, takes a slightly different approach here. This isn’t just waving the flag and singing about apple pie. Call a Marine is a tribute to the quiet strength, the unwavering resolve, the “get the job done” attitude that defines the United States Marines.
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Composed alongside Bobby Pinson, the song debuted in 2013 on Keith’s Drinks After Work album. It arrived at a time when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were still very much in the public consciousness. Call a Marine wasn’t necessarily a war song, but it spoke to the anxieties and concerns of a nation with its sons and daughters deployed overseas.
The beauty of the song lies in its universality. It doesn’t delve into specifics of geopolitical conflicts. Instead, it paints a picture of a situation where things have gone sideways, where danger lurks, and where a sense of calm resolve is needed. That’s when, according to Keith, you Call a Marine. They are the ones bred for such circumstances, the ones who face adversity head-on.
But Call a Marine goes beyond the battlefield. It’s a metaphor for those moments in life when we all need a little bit of “Marine” in us. When the chips are down, when the challenges seem insurmountable, there’s a spirit of determination, a can-do attitude embodied by the Marines that this song evokes.
Of course, Toby Keith being Toby Keith, there’s a touch of that signature bravado woven into the lyrics. He isn’t afraid to depict the Marines as a tough, uncompromising force. Yet, there’s also a deep respect, an acknowledgement of the sacrifices made and the burdens carried.
Call a Marine is more than just a country song. It’s a tribute to a particular branch of the military, yes, but it’s also a celebration of resilience, of the unwavering spirit that resides within all of us, waiting to be called upon. So crank up the volume, and let Toby Keith remind you of the unwavering resolve that a Call a Marine represents.