We take you behind the scenes and explore the making of one of our favorite tunes with The Song Remembers When…
Song: “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home”
Songwriters: Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, Jeremy Stover, and Justin Moore
Album: Late Nights And Longnecks
In September 2018, Justin Moore scored his seventh number one hit with “The One’s That Didn’t Make It Back Home.” This tribute to young soldiers whose lives are cut short by war was born out of another chart-topping song in Justin’s catalog – “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.”
For several years, after he played that song in concert, he’d ask his fans to raise a glass to those who died fighting for American freedom overseas. One night, Justin raised a glass and said, “Here’s to the ones that didn’t make it back home,” and it hit him – “Man, I need to write that.'”
So, Justin got together with three other songwriters – Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, and Jeremy Stover – and told the story of a 22-year-old soldier who lost his life just as he was scheduled to return home. Justin says that the song is “dedicated to every person who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for what and whom they love.”
The music video was shot on Veterans Day 2018 and stars real-life firefighters fighting blazes and policemen in the line of duty.