SongwritingWith:Soldiers - Story Behind the Song - "The Man You Used To Know"

Bruce explains the meaning behind The Man You Used To Know. "It's about losing part of yourself and then trying to gain that back somehow...and it's never too late to try to get back to a good, healthy place," For Lesley, the experience captured a different but equally profound truth: "For a spouse, you have to grieve the person you used to know because when he came back I didn't know that guy. I didn't even like that guy. But I knew the man I married was still there."

Songwriter and producer Trent Willmon, known for his work with artists like Cody Johnson and Granger Smith, both co-wrote and performed the song. "I appreciate anybody who serves our country," Willmon reflects. "They are the folks that keep us free. So many times we forget that. We kind of take them for granted. Sometimes they sacrifice everything. So it's a wonderful opportunity for somebody like me who didn't serve, to give back and try to honor and better understand the experiences of that community."

The song represents the heart of what SongwritingWith:Soldiers does—creating space for veterans and their families to share their experiences and transform them into a lasting piece of art that might also help others.