By American Renagade
On Sept 11, 2001 America got a glimpse of what hell was like. Most of us stood by and watched on TV the horrors of 9/11 as the events unfolded before our eyes. Some actually lived through the devastation of the dust and debris engulfing the streets of New York or the fire that ripped through the Pentagon. And 3000 plus are not here today because of those attacks. Yes it was hell for the many Americans who stood by their televisions or were near the scenes and watched the horror unfold live.
Photo of this author’s Son as he graduates from Fort Jackson, SC
Since that day, tens of thousands of brave men and women have joined our armed forces. Unlike most of us who now go about our lives stopping occasionally to remember hell, they are living it everyday.
Singer/songwriter Johnny Wood remembers 9/11 all too well, being a Native of Chesapeake Virginia. He also vividly remembers watching the news when some of our military completing their first tour of duty started coming home. “I was watching TV and the reporter was stopping some of the soldiers, chatting with them and asking questions the way any reporter would.” Johnny recalled, “There was this one guy, looked to be barely 20. After a few basic questions, the reporter asked him ‘Did you kill anyone?’ He didn’t answer but the look on this young mans face said it all. You could see the hell in his eyes”
Johnny did what he always does when something touches his heart. “I grabbed my guitar and wrote the song in about five minutes flat. I wrote it for that soldier and all of them that have Been To Hell And Back”
Been To Hell And Back is a simple ballad that tells the story of how once they go and serve in a war, our soldier’s lives are changed forever. When they do come home, many face the expectations from family and friends that they will be the same person that left here. “How can they be the same? War is hell.” Said Johnny as he continued, “Only those whom have been there can really relate to what it is like.” The song addresses how a mother realizes her boy is different after going to Iraq. His Dad knows there is only one person that could help his son cope with what he went through, and that is someone who has been through it himself. He tells his son to talk to his uncle, a Vietnam vet.
Been To Hell and Back is simplistic in style with words that actually tell a story. It is one of those tunes that creates a visual in your mind and tugs at your heart. Like all of Mr. Wood’s tunes, it came from real life. “Songwriting and music is my therapy” Johnny laughs, “I see something, or need to speak from my heart, I write a song. I wrote ‘You Raised Me’ for my Mom and even wrote a song for my wife. I sang it to her at our wedding.”
Johnny Wood has been playing guitar since he was seven, but has never considered himself a musician. “I do have a band now though, with some good friends Jeff Lacey on drums and Brad (BO) Bowman on bass. I call it my ‘midlife crisis’, The Johnny Wood Band.” He laughs, then continues, “They are the powerhouse behind the band and the music, I couldn’t ask for none better.” Johnny and his ‘Mid-Life Crisis’ band are working on a studio version of this song, which is coming along great. “Wait till you hear the full studio version, we did the acoustic recording of Been to Hell because we really wanted to get it out there.’
And those who have ‘Been to Hell and Back’ are so glad you did get it out there!
