Soldier of Love

Album: The Greatest (1962)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Alabama soul singer Arthur Alexander was the first to record this song, releasing it as a single in 1962. It didn't chart, but did get the attention of a young group out of England: The Beatles.

    In 1963, The Beatles recorded the song for a BBC radio show called Pop Go The Beatles. This version wasn't released until 1994 when it appeared on the compilation Live At The BBC. Arthur Alexander was a huge influence on The Beatles; they covered his song "Anna (Go to Him)" on their first album, Please Please Me.
  • This was written by the Nashville songwriters Buzz Cason and Tony Moon. The song uses wartime terminology as an analog for a combative relationship, with the singer asking for a truce.

    In our interview with Cason, he explained that Moon came up with the line, "lay down your arms and surrender to me," and they used military terms to hash it out.
  • Originally, the song was called "Lay Down Your Arms," but they ended up calling it "Soldier of Love" after a line in the verse. The title is sometimes rendered "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)."
  • The song has had some high-profile covers. Marshall Crenshaw included it on his 1982 debut album, and Pearl Jam released it as the B-side of their 1999 single Last Kiss.

Comments: 1

  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaNever heard this until I came across the Beatles version. Sadly it is one of many of their songs and videos that is no longer available in the US.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."