Jason Isbell -- Dress Blues [REACTION] 

I went to high school with Jason and Matt, the Marine who was killed in action that this song was about. Jason did a benefit concert in our hometown of Florence, Alabama. I got to work at the event. When he performed this song, I was in a room filled with Marines that served with Matt. Nothing will put things into perspective like seeing a bunch of brave Marines breaking down crying. Like the song says, his wife was expecting their first child and was close to the due date when Matt was killed. He never got to see their child.

I cried so hard for this today for some reason I’ve heard it a million time but it made me think of my High School Classmate Clint Moore who died in Iraq way too young. Way too early. I wish I knew for what that war was fought over I do know he personally died protecting his brothers and us. God bless all the veterans out there and thank you for your service.

I've requested this song from everybody that's reacted to jason for over a year man glad people are listening to how much of a lyrical genius Jason has been since his debut.

This song was written for a man we went to school with named corporal Matthew Conley that was killed two weeks before he was coming home while training his replacement. Jason did an amazing job with this song

Jason wrote this song about the funeral of a boy named Matt Connolly, a kid he went to high school with who joined up and was killed shortly before his tour was to end. Its strange comparison but theres something similar about this song to Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock". Like Mitchell Isbell wasn't able to make it to the event yet he writes a song that allows all of us to have a real sense of what it meant The reference to "Hollywood war" is a political statement, about how the US govt sold the war to the public. I imagine for many who serve this sort of narrative doesn't make as much of a difference because military service is a way of life in their family or town or because its their best opportunity. But it stings still today. The politicians and profiteers didn't have to pay the piper our young men did and their families. I have no experience with war myself but I have friends who have killed or seen death up close in those two damn wars

Simply.Perfect.

I lost some brothers when we were in Afghanistan, also some that were permanently disabled. Thank you for listening to this song. It’s a kick in the gut but it’s reality.

This one takes on a whole different meaning when you've buried a soldier.

I was in the middle of the Matthew Conley motorcade. It stretched from one end of hwy 43 to the other. I know Matthew's dad, Tommy. Good people. Our community was so heart broken when Matthew died. And you better believe if Westboro showed up to protest, it would've not went well. I think they knew that too. That's for the reaction bro.

Jason's creativity, his phrases just cause me to listen with my mouth hanging open. It sometimes amazes me that anybody thinks like these writers. Jason just always blows me away. Respectful honour song.

It's about his high school classmate. A marine.

This song always kills me Semper Fi, Pete, Eric, Glen, Casey And all those I didn't get the privilege to serve with

Thanks so much for the video. Really love the channel! Strongly suggest the music of Josh Ritter. Check out the song "The Torch Committee," Jason Isbell produced the album that it's on, and it features Amanda Shires on fiddle.

Gives ya the chills don’t it

Truly moving. Thank you.

Please do a song by Jason Isbell called “The Devil is my Running Mate”. Most overlooked song from Jason.

One of the interesting things about this song is that it really isn't pro or anti military. Like you said, it just kind of gives you the facts about what one of these deaths looks like. The one part that is strong "anti" is about the specific war, which others have said is reference to Iraq, and which many people now question. But that isn't so much anti-military or anti-war as much as questioning of leadership or if that war in particular was worth it. Its almost like telling us how these people were brave enough to sign up to defend our country with their lives if necessary, but then we send them somewhere that doesn't actually have anything to do with that. And in that context, it kind of made me thinks about the current circumstances with the Russian-Ukrainian war. I have seen so many people say why we should or shouldn't intervene, but I haven't seen anyone ask the people that we would be sending to war how they would feel about it. Did they sign up only to defend their country, so even though its a humanitarian disaster, do they not want to risk their lives outside of that purpose? Or do they feel like they have the ability to help stop human suffering and that is a worthy enough cause to risk their lives?

Matt Connolly

Originally a Drive By Trucker song when Jason was still with them.

The main key to this song that Jason is trying his damndest to draw attention to is the fact this this young man died for a lie. And he did. And many like him did as well, both American and on the other side of the ocean. Zac Brown Band are an extremely talented group of musicians and I have nothing but love and respect for them. But when they recorded this song they changed the “Hollywood War” part to “gave all in some god awful war”. Now, why would they do that? That is essentially the whole purpose and message of the song. Which is, sometimes wars must be fought, but let’s make damn sure they are unavoidable before we send kids to die. Let’s make sure we’re not starting wars simply for greed. What purpose did the the sacrifice of the boy Mathew that Jason wrote this this song about serve? Was America at the time in any danger if Matt didn’t go fight the enemy? No. It was a Hollywood War. Maybe it’s that level of honesty that keeps Jason Isbell from getting played on mainstream radio.

Hey , any way you could do “false gods” from Evan Bartels new album “lonesome” - any song by him would be great . Never seen a react to him and he is amazing

This is a song about my generation. We all died for nothing

What is the name of the instrumental intro? I gotta know.