Informative, Music Blog, Theme Prompt, Writing Prompts

Mama, I’m Coming Home

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“Special Awareness Events”
This is my response to the challenge.

This week at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “Special Awareness Events”. Jim has done an admirable job of informing us of the many events in the month of May …. some I was aware of and some I’d never heard of. Did you know May is Bike Month, Asparagus Month, National Strawberry Month, National Egg Month,  Older Americans Month, and National Military Appreciation Month? Neither did I! I hope you will check out Jim’s site to learn more about these special events. I have narrowed down the list to one category …. the military …. but I’ve tweaked it to fit my own agenda, as today here in the US we are celebrating Mother’s Day.

Image by Me & ChatGPT

John Michael Montgomery is a renowned American country singer/songwriter who defined the 1990s country-pop sound with hits like “I Swear” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)”. Both songs were named top country hits by Billboard. Born January 20, 1965, and raised in Kentucky, Montgomery’s parents were musical, with his father playing in local honky-tonks and teaching him guitar at an early age. He began in his family’s band …. Harold Montgomery and the Kentucky River Express …. playing rhythm guitar. In 1991, Montgomery signed with Atlantic Records, launching a career with over 30 charted singles and seven #1 hits. His 1992 debut album, Life’s a Dance, went platinum and reached #4 on the Billboard Country chart. He continued releasing albums through the 2000s, including Letters from Home (2004), and launched his own label, Stringtown Records, in 2008. Montgomery officially ended his touring career with a farewell concert at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky in late 2025/early 2026, citing the toll of the road and a desire to focus on his personal life.

Released in February 2004, “Letters from Home” was the title track of John Michael Montgomery’s ninth studio album, also called Letters from Home; the song is a standout hit on an album that focused on a more mellow, nostalgic sound compared to his earlier work. The song depicts a soldier’s emotional connection to family through letters while stationed overseas …. one each from his mother, his fiancé, and his father …. which help him cope with the harsh reality of war. Written by Tony Lane and David Lee, the song became a top 10 hit, peeking at #2 on the Billboard Country chart, making it one of Montgomery’s most successful late career hits. The song deeply resonated with soldiers during the Iraq/Afghanistan wars and was widely recognized as a tribute to the sacrifices of military families.

This is “Letters From Home” by John Michael Montgomery

LYRICS

My dearest son, it’s almost June
I hope this letter catches up with you and finds you well
It’s been dry but they’re callin’ for rain
And everything’s the same ol’ same in Johnsonville
Your stubborn ol’ daddy ain’t said too much
But I’m sure you know he sends his love
And she goes on, in a letter from home

[Chorus]
I hold it up and show my buddies
Like we ain’t scared and our boots ain’t muddy
And they all laugh like there’s something funny
’bout the way I talk, when I say mama sends her best ya’ll
I fold it up and put it in my shirt
Pick up my gun and get back to work
And it keeps me drivin’ on, waitin’ on
Letters from home

My dearest love, it’s almost dawn
I’ve been lyin’ here all night Long,
Wonderin’ where you might be
I saw your mama and I showed her the ring
Man on the television said
Something so I couldn’t sleep
But I’ll be alright, I’m just missin’ you
And this is me kissin’ you
X’s and O’s in a letter from home

[Chorus]
I hold it up and show my buddies
Like we ain’t scared and our boots ain’t muddy
And they all laugh ’cause she calls me honey
But they take it hard, ’cause I don’t read the good parts
I fold it up and put it in my shirt
Pick up my gun and get back to work
And it keeps me drivin’ on, waitin’ on
Letters from home

Dear son, I know I ain’t written
And sittin’ here tonight alone in the kitchen
It occurs to me I might not have said it, so I’ll say it now
Son, you make me proud

[Chorus]
I hold it up and show my buddies
Like we ain’t scared and our boots ain’t muddy
But no one laughs ‘ cause there ain’t nothin’
Funny when a soldier cries, and I just wipe my eyes
I fold it up and put in my shirt
Pick up my gun and get back to work
And it keeps me drivin’ on, waitin’ on,
Letters from home

Writer(s): David Cory Lee, Tony Mac Lane

Image by Me & Gemini
Special Awareness Events

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow his link and check out his site.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some great music. I hope you enjoyed the theme for this week as well as the information and song I featured.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2026

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

43 thoughts on “Mama, I’m Coming Home”

    1. I love when those little serendipitous happenings pop-up! I’m not a huge Country Music fan, but I’ve heard JMM’s music before; his brother Eddie is half of Montgomery Gentry, who you may be familiar with. It’s a great song for this particular category and I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by, Christian.

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  4. Wonderful song Nancy… with a great meaning.
    Sorry I’m so late…our Saint Bernard had 8 puppies on Friday…it’s been a madhouse here. I’ve never been through this before. They are Saint Bernard – Great Pyrenees puppies. Nancy… need a puppy? lol..

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    1. Congrats, Max! It’s got to be the cutest thing, but I am sure it’s chaos in your house right about now. St. Bernard/Great Pyrenees puppies must be adorable, but no thanks …. I’ll take a pass! 😂 Lots of luck with them.

      I’m glad you enjoyed the song. There’s nothing like Country Music to get the feels going, especially when you add some patriotism and family. This song has it in spades and John Michael Montgomery delivered. Thanks so much for stopping by.

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      1. I agree with you about Country Music and that song. I went to school with Lee Greenwood’s bass player’s son…when God Bless the USA came out. I love that country music expresses patriotism. We need more of it.

        I’ve never been through this before. Didn’t know what to expect…our spoiled dog has turned into a supermom…nature is amazing.

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        1. You’re absolutely right about Lee Greenwood’s song but you have to be careful who you tell that to 😉😉. I get goosebumps every time 🇺🇸

          All moms instinctively know what to do and it is both amazing and beautiful. What a special event for Mother’s Day Weekend! 😊🐶

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  5. Very good and emotional song, for sure. I’ve heard some of his songs, but this one was new, and that video, oh my. It brought back lots of memories for me, being my husband was in the Army for over 21 years. I sent many letters and packages to him when he was stationed over seas over the years. 🙂

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    1. You truly can relate to this, Barbara. Thanks so much for sharing your personal story and letting us know how greatly the families of our servicemen and women (and all military around the world) are affected by separation and fear and loneliness, etc. I think John Michael Montgomery did an excellent job with this song and I’m pleased to know you enjoyed it. Thank you.

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  9. John Michael Montgomery is a new artist to me, but that is because I usually don’t listen to country music, however this song is truly lovely. I see you made a special banner for country music, and it looks great Nancy.

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    1. There was a time about 20 years ago when our sons had moved out of the house and Bill and I started listening to country music. I’m sure his massive crush on Taylor Swift at that time had absolutely nothing to do with it. 🤣 We enjoyed it and then moved on. I’m not a big fan of country, but I do have an appreciation for it, and when it comes to this type of heartfelt, deeply moving song, there’s no genre that does it better. Like you, I appreciate music for what it is and try not to dismiss it out of hand. Thank you for taking always taking the time to listen and comment. And yes …. I did create a special country music banner. Why the hell not! I’m so glad you like it; feel free to use it anytime. Thanks for your very good wishes and for another excellent challenge. I appreciate you, Jim.

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      1. Taylor Swift began performing at local events, fairs, and contests by age 10 in Pennsylvania and learned guitar at 11. She went on to become bigger than life itself. I am so happy to have you sharing your music every week, Nance.

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  10. This is a tearjerker of a song for me, and I do not know why. No one I ever loved went to war. But my heart still feels the pain and uncertainty that surely must accompany it.

    This was a seemingly unconventional song choice for you Nancy- at least I wasn’t expecting it. But then you never know what music you are gonna pull out of your vast archives…

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    1. You are spot on about this not being a song I typically share. I admit it …. I am not the world’s biggest fan of country music, but it has its place, and this type of song is perfect for that genre. If you felt moved by this, it’s because you’re a human and you have a big heart. Anyone who is callous about war and its toll on family is a cold person, someone I can’t relate to. Thank you for a beautiful comment, my friend. 💕

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    1. Thanks for your lovely wishes, Clive. The day will be spent with my sons. 💕

      I’m not the world’s biggest country music fan, but they have the market cornered on down home, sentimental songs like this one. He really got the message across.

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  14. Happy Mother’s Day Nance – really enjoyed your write up I have to admit Country is not one of my favourite music styles, and I’d not heard this before but I did like it, the lyrics are very good – have a lovely day ♥️

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    1. Thank you for your lovely wishes, my friend. Country is really not my thing either, but I knew I wanted to combine these two events and, if we’re being honest, country does it best! There is a deep, down home sentimentality to this genre and in this song, it really works. Thanks so much ❤️

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  16. Happy Mother’s Day we had our Mothering Sunday back in March.

    Great song Nancy two very important things Mothers day and letters from home. That a truly clever song and you gave it a great write up. The lyrics were brilliant. 💜💜💕

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