Arlington (song) explained

Arlington
Cover:Trace Arlington single.png
Type:single
Artist:Trace Adkins
Album:Songs About Me
Released:June 11, 2005
Genre:Country
Length:4:07
Label:Capitol Nashville
Producer:Scott Hendricks
Prev Title:Songs About Me
Prev Year:2004
Next Title:Honky Tonk Badonkadonk
Next Year:2005

"Arlington" is a song written by Jeremy Spillman and Dave Turnbull and recorded by American country music artist Trace Adkins. It was released in June 2005 as the second single from Adkin's album Songs About Me. The song reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1]

Content

It is sung from the viewpoint of a soldier, killed in battle and buried at Arlington National Cemetery. It was inspired by United States Marine Corps Corporal Patrick Nixon, who died in battle in 2003. After meeting Nixon's father, Turnbull was inspired to write the song.[2]

Adkins said that "This is not a war song, and it has nothing to do with politics. This is a true story."[3]

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price of Billboard gave the song a positive review, calling it a "hauntingly beautiful song about sacrifice, honor, and the cost of freedom, and it leaves a lasting impression no matter which way your political views lean."[4]

Chart performance

"Arlington" reached a peak of number 16 on the Hot Country Songs chart in mid-2005. The song fell from this peak after Adkins withdrew it, due to complaints from families of service members.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 18.
  2. Web site: Trace Adkins Discovers Songs About Me. https://archive.today/20130119082627/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1498860/trace-adkins-discovers-songs-about-me.jhtml. dead. January 19, 2013. CMT News. 2016-04-12.
  3. Web site: Trace Adkins Celebrates Platinum Success. https://archive.today/20130120024112/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1497462/trace-adkins-celebrates-platinum-success.jhtml. dead. January 20, 2013. CMT News. 2016-04-12.
  4. Book: Inc, Nielsen Business Media. Billboard. 2005-06-25. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. en.
  5. Book: Rudder, Randy. Country Music Reader. 2006-10-01. Country Music Books. 9780976974512. en.
  6. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. 20. 2011. 978-0-89820-188-8.